Divine Weddings

Table Design

2008-11-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

I was a sponsor at a wedding event last weekend. I designed 4 tables that will be featured in a design video for Bridal Fantasy 2009. The colour scheme was Black, Red, Gold and White. Since I have a decor background, I had lots of fun bringing these designs together. Here's some pictures....

The first table featured a black sequence table linen, and a large centrepiece with black branches. We hung white orchids and mini mirrors for some sparkle. The napkins were folded to fit the menu cards, and we added some bling on those as well. It looked stunning!

For this table I used a gold and white colour scheme. Simple and elegant!

This next table was fun! Black and white baroque linen with splashes of red.

The last table sparkled! I combined all four colours, but the focal point was the mirrored centerpiece and napkin ring holders. Pretty, pretty, pretty!

Need some help with your decor design? I offer hourly consulting, and can help you come up with a perfect design for your wedding! Decor consulting includes everything from colour choices, style design, floral and stationary suggestions, as well as room layout design. I can also suggest the vendors that can make it all come together for you. Contact me today to schedule your consultation!

Carnations...really?

2008-10-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Carnations have long been a wedding no no. It just came up in conversation last night in a meeting with some clients. We were laughing at the idea of using carnations for flowers for a wedding. My exact words were "Tammy doesn't do carnations!" - while visions of 80's style blue carnation bouquets ran through my head. Well, upon reading the new issue of InStyle Weddings today, there was a section devoted to Carnations! I have to admit, my mind has changed a little. Although I really don't want to see them in bouquets or boutonnieres ANY TIME soon, they do have a modern look when done properly. Of course, there are a few rules to go by as to not have an 80's flashback, so check out the tips and pictures below.

THINK BIG
Are you wanting to use a large amount of flowers for impact? Carnations cost only $1 on average, so they make a great alternative when you are designing on a larger scale. Plus they are incredibly hearty and can last a long time without wilting.

CHOOSE ONE COLOUR
This gives a very modern look with a lot of impact! Carnations also have great texture and come in more than 10,000 shades! And if done properly, your guests won't even guess that they are carnations!

GROUPINGS
Group them together eclectically - it gives great impact and is visually stunning! They also work well designed into shapes like these square vases toppers, or even round spheres.

Year End Promotion!

2008-10-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Book our Day-of Coordination package between October 15th and December 31st of this year, and get one hour of free wedding consulting! ($150 value) Once you book the day-of package, we can schedule a time to sit down over a coffee (my treat!) and you can ask me questions about your wedding. Anything from vendor referrals, decor design, floral suggestions, timeline planning and budget developement, and any other planning questions you might have. It's a great way to get started on your planning or to help you through some tough spots! Some 2009 dates still available!

Regal Wedding with a Feather Twist!

2008-10-07T08:45:00.001-07:00

What a busy busy weekend in Camrose! Meighan and Jolke's wedding turned out amazing! We started planning this wedding in June - yes, only four months to plan! But we pulled it off! The reception was held at the Camrose Golf Course with a very pink theme! Satin pink linens, with tall pink ostrich feather centerpieces. The room looked very regal! Madison Drive rocked the reception, and kept everyone on the dance floor! We were very busy, but my assistant managed to snap a few photos.

Derks Street Fashion Show

2008-10-07T08:26:00.001-07:00

I was very lucky to have been invited to the Derks Fashion Show and VIP Party last Friday night. Derks not only rents tuxedos, they also offer amazing men's fashions! The fashion show was held right on the street just off of Whyte Ave. Lexus was a sponsor and had some of their amazing cars on display. The VIP Party was sponsored by Belvedere Vodka and h'ours dourves were sponsored by Packrat Louie's. Delicious! It was so fun to get out to an event I didn't have to work at! Here's some pictures from the fashion show.

The Scarlett and Ryan Booth

2008-09-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

Today I had a booth at Bridal Conference - Diamonds & Divas. I designed my booth around Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds who are getting married this winter - and I was so happy with how it turned out! A huge special thank-you to Jenelle from Pinkpolka Wedding Design who supplied the stunning menu cards for me. http://www.pinkpolkadesign.com/ She did a fabulous job as always!

Thanks to all the brides that stopped by, it was so nice meeting all of you and I look forward to designing your own little 'celebrity wedding' for you!

Here's some photos:

Eco-Friendly Global Segment

2008-09-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

I was asked to do a segment this morning for the Global Morning Show about eco-friendly weddings. Couples are wanting to add different 'eco-chic' aspects to their weddings to lessen the impact their wedding will have on the environment.

The segment was taped in conjunction with Bridal Conference and was taped at Derk's Formals, and it was so much fun! I want to give a HUGE thank-you to all of the companies who supplied their products for the segment. Below is a list of everything that was showcased, as well as the company contact information for each of them.

Inspired Gardens -

http://www.inspiredgardens.ca/

780-963-5625

Fill your senses with the fragrance, taste, texture and display of their wide range of culinary herbs, edible flowers, and fabulous salads and greens - all raised using all-natural growing conditions and sustainable agriculture methods. The offer

U-Pick fields of beautiful organic flowers that are pesticide and herbicide free. Your florist can go directly to them for flowers for bouquets, coursages, and even centerpieces for your wedding. They also supplied organic edible flowers to garnish the organic wedding cake used in the segment.

Pinkpolka Wedding Design -
http://www.pinkpolkadesign.com/

780-643-0404

Jenelle at Pinkpolka design is so creative and designs stunning invitations! She supplied these invitations for the segment. They are made out of either FSC Certified paper (Forest Stewardship Council - monitors logging companies to ensure they use ethical practices) or Green-e Certified paper (manufactured by companies that use renewable resources).

Kirstens Chocolates - The Cocoa Room -
10139-112 Street

http://www.kirstenschocolates.com/

Kirsten supplied the amazing organic chocolate truffles and bark, as well as dehydrated organic orange slices for our favours. I just tried a few nibbles of them, and they are DECADENT!

Impressions Are Everything -

http://www.impressionsareeverything.com/
780-478-9561

Tina supplied the fabulous organic woven favour boxes for the segment. They are made out of natural materials and are biodegradable. It's so easy to order from her on-line store, and she is located right here in Edmonton.

Bake Me A Cake -

http://www.bake-me-a-cake.ca/
780-968-8706

Roxanne supplied the beautiful organic wedding cake for the segment. The cake was designed with rafia (a natural product) and we garnished it with organic edible flowers. She can use local organic ingredients to customize a very eco-chic confectionary for your wedding day!

deVine Wines & Spirits -

10111-104 Street

http://www.devinewines.ca/

deVine Wines supplied some great organic wines to showcase on the segment. There are great organic wineries in BC, and deVine Wines can recommend a great organic option that is bottled close to home, and will compliment your wedding meal perfectly!

So thanks so much to all of the great suppliers, and to Heidi and Gay from Derk's Formals!

Scarlett Johansson & Ryan Reynolds

2008-09-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds are getting married this winter, and I am planning their wedding! OK, not OFFICIALLY, but I am using them as my inspiration for my booth at Bridal Conference - Diamonds and Divas! The show is being held on Sunday, September 21st at Northlands. Visit their website for information. http://www.bridalconference.com/
It's going to be a great show with fabulous prizes, amazing fashion shows, and the Bridal IQ - Video Wedding Planning Session. I will be a featured vendor in this video giving wedding planning tips. So you are cordially invited to booth #62 to experience Scarlett and Ryan's mock wedding! It will be fabulous!

Regal and Feathers!

2008-08-25T12:18:00.001-07:00

I just had to share with all of you the amazing invitations for some clients of mine designed by Jenelle at Pinkpolka Wedding Designs. http://www.pinkpolkadesign.com/ She was amazing and really came up with an amazing invitation that really captured the vision. At first, we were going for "princess", but after some intense brain storming and picking up on little details - we came up with a Regal theme and feather motifs. They are a tri-folded invitation with the detachable reply postcard. I just absolutely love the monogram design she came up with for the front of the invitation. They are absolutely stunning, and I can't wait to see the rest of the stationary that Jenelle will be designing for this wedding!

Traditional Cree Wedding

2008-08-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

I had the great honour of planning Lousie and Ian's wedding for this August long weekend. Ian is Cree and Louise is Cree and Italian. It was a wedding filled with symbolism where every detail had meaning. Louise and Ian were so great through the planning process and were fun to work with.

The morning started early with the traditional Cree ceremony being held in the lodge of an elder. The groom wore traditional clothing with a breast plate made by his mother. The bride wore a traditional buck skin gown.

The aboriginal wedding traditions and life teachings are very inspiring and meaningful. The ceremony began with a pipe ceremony which could not be photographed or videod in any way as it is a very sacred ceremony. It is the equivalent to western vows. In western weddings couples say their vows, in Cree tradition, they do this without saying a word at all, but by sharing a pipe and letting the smoke bless them. The rest of the ceremony was filled with very meaningful traditions, including presenting them with their moccasins that are only to be worn for sacred events and ceremonies. As well, the couple was presented with two feathers. They were tied together in a way that they can never be serperated, to represent their new union.

The legal ceremony was held outdoors later in the day. A flutist played music for the ceremony adding the perfect ambiance to such a meaningful day. Their mothers carried vases with earth from Italy as well as earth from the family reservations. The couple later poured this earth into one vase combining their families history and lives together as one. Guests then entered the dining tent for dinner.

Louise and Ian are a great couple and really respect and love their cultures and wanted their wedding to reflect their cultural pride and Cree spirituality.

Here are some photos from the day...

Louise helps Ian put on his breast plate which was made by his mother.

They were presented with their moccasins that are only to be worn on very sacred life events and ceremonies. Sage is put inside the moccasins to guide them in their journey together.

They are presented with two feathers that are tied together in a way so that they can never be seperated, representing their union.

Ian wanted the time they saw each other for the first time all dressed up to be special, so the fabulous Rebecca from Dragonfly Photography had the great idea of them touching hands first. So they drove seperately to Commonwealth Stadium, where they first met, to do their 'first seeing each other' photos.

Ian proposed to Louise on the top of Heart Mountain in Canmore, so it was only fitting to have the wedding designed with a rustic mountain theme. The centerpieces were hollowed out pieces of birch, filled with willow and mountain flowers. Rocks were painted with the table numbers.

The menu was customized to reflect both the Cree and Italian traditions, serving Bison and Blueberry Ravioli, as well as Bannock (a traditional aboriginal bread) and garlic butter.

Guests enjoyed the rest of the evening dancing and enjoying a musical performance from the bride's first cousin, an amazing singer! Before the night was over, Louise and her maid of honour who met at traditional Cree dance classes, shared an amazing dance on the dance floor to traditional Cree music.

Classic Ambiance

2008-07-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

What a fun wedding! Heather and Adam hired me a month before their wedding to help tie up the loose ends and to bring together their classy evening wedding. They are such a great couple and Heather is truly the cutest bride I have ever seen!

Guests were greeted with the jazzy sounds of The Tuxedo Junkies and enjoyed passed champagne and chocolate covered strawberries before being escorted into the tent on the scenic grounds of The Derrick Club for the evening ceremony. They were then treated to an amazing dessert buffet in the main dining hall and danced the night away to the vintage sounds of the band and enjoyed great food and ambiance.

Here are some picture snapped thoughout the day...

Last Weekend's Wedding

2008-07-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

I had the honour of doing the day-of coordination for Renee and Derek on the weekend. It turned out to be such a beautiful day! The weather was perfect and Renee and Derek were a true pleasure to work with. The ceremony went flawless and was held at the Sherwood Park United Church, and Venessa from Azure Music treated all the guests to her amazing saxaphone playing! They had photos at West Edmonton Mall, and the Woodvale Banquet Facility, which was also the venue for the reception. Thanks to their amazing staff, and Andrea from Brown's Photography for helping pull off such a fantastic wedding!

Here's some photos snapped by my assistant.

Madison Drive was the entertainment to get everyone on the dance floor. They were amazing. Here's some video clips.

This one is of the father/daughter dance. The bride danced with her dad, and the groom danced with his daughter.

I love this video. Check out the groomsman at the end trying to keep up with the conga line!

What a great wedding. Thanks Renee and Derek!

Green Gifts

2008-06-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

With more and more couples becoming eco-conscious and hosting earth friendly weddings, they also want to ensure that their guests recognize their wishes as well and are registering at eco-friendly stores and websites. They want to ensure their green wedding goes past the day itself and into the gifts they'll receive for their big day. Here are some great sites to check out - they are full of fabulous green gifts. Very eco-chic!

BTC Elements - Organic cotton napkins, glassware made from recycled glass, and bowls made out of potato chip bags! http://btcelements.com/

Branch - A fabulous site that has everything from furniture made from sustainable forest wood, bamboo utensils, and cork bowls. The site even offers gift certificates and a section to register your gift choices! http://www.branchhome.com/

Gaiam - A lifestyle company carrying eco-friendly cleaning supplies, organic cotton sheets, eucalyptus outdoor furniture, and eco-friendly gadgets and toys. They even carry fitness and yogo items. Pretty much everything green on this earth! http://www.gaiam.com/

Alternative Gift Registry - Just register, and this site directs you to many green gift sites that allow you to register for donations to charities and even trees from local nurseries. It also has great green wedding tips! http://www.alternativegiftregistry.org/

Love The Shoes!!!

2008-06-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me, knows I love shoes! When I saw the cover of the July/August issue of BRIDES magazine, I just fell in love with this idea! Definitely for a fun bride who wants to show some personality. I don't know if you could dance all night in these, nevermind walk down the aisle! But it shows a great way to add some 'pop' to your wedding ensemble, maybe just with a lower heal of course. Fabulous!!

Industry Night Professional Photos

2008-06-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

I was so very proud to have co-hosted the Edmonton Wedding Industry Night! Thank goodness for the fabulous Kelsey Nielson and her photography skills, because my earlier posted photos where pretty blurry!

Entrance decor...

Buffet Table...

Room Decor...

Some of the guests...

Punch bowl donated by Frozen Memories...

Fiesta Cubana Salsa Dancers...

Even some of us got into the fun...

The amazing Terry McDade...

Free samples from Alley Kat Breweries...

What a great night! Looking forward to working with all of the great vendors in the Edmonton Wedding Industry!

Cheers!

2008-06-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

Not sure what wine you should pair with you wedding meal? Don't know a Cabernet from a Pinot Blanc? Here's a fabulous opportunity to attend some wine tastings, and they are free! deVine Wines (love the name...ha ha) is hosting two free drop-in tastings this month. On June 20th, Paracombe Wines will be on hand offering information and free samples of their wine grown in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. For more info visit http://www.localwineevents.com/Edmonton-Wine/event-187470.html

And June 27 & 28, deVine Wines will be hosting the Canadian Wine Festival. Admission is free, but they do ask that you make a donation to the Zebra Child Protection Centre. They will accept both monetary donations as well as gifts of toys, books, games, or clothing for children up to 14 years old. A sure way to find that perfect Canadian wine to compliment your wedding meal, and donate to a great cause at the same time. For more info visit http://www.localwineevents.com/Edmonton-Wine/event-187472.html

Cheers!

Newest Trend - Rock the Reception!

2008-06-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

The newest trend rockin' the wedding world - Rock The Reception! It's a new reality show where they take a couple and choreograph a dance for them for their first dance. No lovey dovey waltzing here! Check out these videos on YouTube. What a great idea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tjX89RCfxE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNO8OaUiOOU&feature=related

Edmonton Wedding Industry Night

2008-05-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 12th marked the first annual Edmonton Wedding Industry Night held at the Crowne Plaza, and I was very proud to be one of the wedding planners that planned and hosted the event. We had such a great time planning everything, and it turned out so well! Our sponsors were so generous, and everything turned out beautifully. From the salsa dancers, Alley Kat breweries serving free samples, and all the food and decor, everyone in the wedding industry had a fabulous time! The event was designed so that professionals in the wedding industry could build relationships and get to know one another better. This benefits the way we work together on weddings, and provides better results for our clients.

Here are some pictures of the event. My photo skills are not very good, so sorry for the blurriness! I tried my best. :) Professional photos are coming and I will post those when they are ready.

The dramatic entrance....

Room decor...

Buffet table.......

Chocolate Fountain Table...

Fireplace decor...

So thanks to all of our great sponsors! Looking forward to planning next year's event!

June Issue of Glamour

2008-05-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

I picked up the latest issue of Glamour magazine yesterday while at the airport (I feel like quite the jet setter lately)! I usually buy a wedding magazine to read on the plane, but this time found that I had bought all the wedding magazines already! So I picked up the new issue of Glamour instead. It has Jessica Simpson on the cover, and I love her, so I thought it would be a good read. Well to my surprise, tucked in some where in the middle was a three page write up called "45 New Wedding Do's and Don'ts!" Everything from averting beauty disasters, budget tips, funny little wedding blurbs, and Do's and Don'ts for your big day. My favorite Do - Wear a new perfume. Every time you smell it, you'll think of your wedding day! So it's a great magazine to pick up for the usual beauty and fashion tips to keep you pretty through out your planning and wedding day, and just the right touch of wedding info to keep you on the right track!

Bobble Head Cake Topper!

2008-05-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

During my daily wedding web research, I came across the cutest cake toppers ever! You just send in your pictures, and these companies create customized bobble head cake toppers that look just like you! Just google 'bobble head cake topper', and a list of companies will come up. Definitely something that will get your guests talking and giggling at the resemblance!

Guest's Choice

2008-04-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

Can't decide on the song for your first dance? Or what dessert to serve after your wedding meal? Or maybe you and hubby-to-be can't agree on the flavour of the wedding cake? Let your guests decide for you! With almost every couple having a personalized wedding website, it's easy to come to a decision when the majority rules. It's simple to set up a poll on your website, listing the different choices, and when guests visit the site, they simply answer the poll, and the decisions are in. It's also a great aspect to add to the program for the evening when the MC announces what the majority chose. It's a great way to get your guests involved!

Interactive Signature Cocktails

2008-04-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

One of the newest trends is 'interactive' weddings. It's a way of getting the guests involved in an activity at the wedding. So I thought, an Interactive Signature Cocktail Bar! What fun! Guests can choose from different liquors and mixes and come up with their own signature cocktails! You can have the bar set up with a seperate section, have a variety of liquors, like flavoured vodkas, rums, sparkling champagne, etc, and some mixers like pineapple juice, cranberry juice, and carbonated mixers. Don't forget the trimmings! Let them choose from cherries, limes, different coloured sugar rims, and those cute cocktail umbrellas! They just choose one of each, the bartender mixes it up, and voila - they are the designers of their own signature cocktails. You can even let them name their cocktails. It would be so much fun to see what people come up with!

Picnic Bridal Shower

2008-04-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

With bridal shower season upon us, and the beautiful sunny weather we are having, I thought what a better way to shower a bride with gifts in a fun and casual way than a Picnic Bridal Shower! Lay out blankets in a park, with the bride and her bridesmaids sitting on a blanket in the center of everyone. Each blanket can have it's own picnic basket filled with bottled waters, maybe a bottle of sparkling wine, pin-wheel sandwiches, fruits and veggies, dainties, lots of fun stuff! And at the end, you can draw names to see who goes home with a picnic basket. What a fun and relaxing time in the sunshine!

For the Eco-Friendly Bride

2008-03-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

CARGO has introduced a new eco-friendly lipstick called PlantLove Botanical Lipstick.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P172734
The lipstick tube is made entirely out of corn - a renewable and abundant resource. This innovation also emits less greenhouse gases. And the best part, the outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds. Just moisten and plant, and wildflowers will grow! A perfect lipstick for the environmentally conscious bride, and an even better gift for her bridesmaids! It comes in twenty different shades, ten of them being designed by your favourite celebrities! CARGO also donates $2 from the sale of every shade to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. They are available for $20 from Sephora and The Bay.

The Perfect Pairing

2008-03-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed for an article in Canadian Florist Magazine, and during the interview, the columnist Michelle Brisebois, mentioned the work she did for a line of wines by Roundpetal Wines called XOXO Wine. She mentioned they were marketing the wine towards brides, so I thought, I must try this wine! With it's cute name, passionate play on words, (and wonderful taste I might add), it's the perfect wine to set a romantic mood for your wedding day! From sauvignon blanc chenin to merlot cabernet, they will have a wine that will be the perfect pairing to your wedding meal. Grapelove can be found at http://www.xoxowine.com/ and at liquor stores across Canada.