Cat fight.

If you didn't read the last post about the guest that attended a wedding and got called out by the Bride for giving a so-called "bad gift," you might want to do that here before I go into a tangent.

I had my say on the situation in the previous blog post, and also chatted about it with many friends and family - my opinion stayed the same...until now. The other day I read another article that displayed the text and email conversations between the guest and the Bride and to say I was disgusted is an understatement.

This situation was and is nothing more than a glorified cat fight.

Both parties are at fault. Both are trying to school the other on how to behave, react and treat others. I'm a big believer of "treat others the way you want to be treated", as well as "what we don't know won't hurt us."
Neither the guest or the Bride treated one another with respect, and at times I felt the conversations between the two aired on the side of bullying. To tell someone that they were the talk of your wedding and should be embarrassed that they were talked about and laughed at is a) not nice to tell someone, and b) not nice to do. Why on earth would you be so immature at your own wedding and so disrespectful to another is beyond me. It was a wedding and not a high school prom, right?

The fact that both of them took jabs at one another was hard to read. Weddings are to be a joyous occasion and bring people together, not tear them apart. Clearly, these girls shouldn't be friends, and that is how I would have handled the entire situation. If I was the guest and got that initial text, I would have thanked her for her opinion and then cut her out of my life. No one needs to be judged or made to feel bad for a decision they made with good intentions. But on the other hand, no one likes to be schooled about how to behave after the behavior has been executed, and both the guest and the Bride did that. Keep your comments to yourself, be gracious and be thankful. If you want to make fun of the gift choice to your new husband or wife, do that behind closed doors. Have a chuckle and leave it at that.
If you get scolded by a bride or groom for your gift choice, then make note of the type of personality trait they are showing (selfish, ungrateful, etc) and consider a friendship lost - don't go telling all of your friends and the local newspaper of their lack of tact because it just shows that you don't have much either.

So folks, at the end of this rant, I'd like to say tisk tisk to both the guest and the Bride. I'm tired of hearing about it, and reading about it, aren't you? Let's just drop this topic and call it what it is....a cat fight.

Bad gift or bad Bride?

A girl and her partner attended an acquaintance's wedding and gifted the Brides with a basket of goodies including premium salsa, chips, marshmallow fluff spread and other sweet treats. She took the time to shop for these treats, and signed the card with, "Life is delicious - Enjoy!" Not your standard wedding gift, but a kind gesture none the less to wish the newlyweds well.

After the wedding, one of the Brides texted the girl with this;"I'm not sure if it's the first wedding you have been to, but for your next wedding … people give envelopes. I lost out on $200 covering you and your dates plate . … and got fluffy whip and sour patch kids in return. Just a heads-up for the future."

You know what I have to say to that? Tisk, tisk. 

Firstly, shame on the Bride for sending a text like that, and shame on her for not thinking the girls gift was up to par. I would have retorted to that text with a simple "Just an envelope, eh? I think my gift was better than a paper letter holder." But, that's just me.

When you get married, do not expect guests to even give you a gift. Getting a gift should not be an expectation. If you are only getting married and having a wedding to reap a whack load of money and or gadgets for your home - don't have a wedding. I'm a firm believer that your wedding shouldn't put your guests in the poor house. There are showers, Stag & Does, Bachelorette parties and then the wedding...that is enough to put anyone into overdraft.

Also, expecting your guests to know the cost per plate is ridiculous. Guests should give what they can afford, not what they 'think' each plate is worth. Every wedding is different, and there is no way of telling how much or how little the couple spent hosting their wedding.

In my opinion, I think giving a gift that you chose as a personalized gift (i.e: not a cheque and not something from the registry) is a nice gesture. I'm a fan of personalized gifts. In fact, I have given personalized gifts in the past to friends, and they have been thankful for them. Once, I gave a friend a limited edition print that had a beautiful winter scene and had a Bernese mountain dog in it, which is the breed she owns. I also had it personally signed by the artist. Had she had balked at that gift, I think it would have put our friendship in perspective. Real friends don't judge you on your choices, especially when it comes to gifts. Tisk Tisk. Which brings me to another point, why did this Bride invite the girl who is stated as being an "acquaintance"? You are to invite your closest family and friends to your wedding to celebrate in your joy, not everyone that you know or have talked to a handful of times. That is greedy. My rule of thumb for inviting guests; if you haven't had a sit down meal with them in the past calendar year, they shouldn't make the cut. 

I could go on about how this Bride was out of line sending that text and having that reaction to the gift, but I won't. What I will say again is, if you are having a wedding to make money, don't have one. Do you have a dinner party at your home so you can stock up on bottles of wine and or flowers? No. Do you have a birthday or Anniversary party so you can get gifts? No. You should gather with your friends because you want to celebrate with them, and spend time with them - not to get anything else in return.

So, tisk tisk to the Bride. And I say Bravo to the girl for giving a gift that she felt was suited for the couple. Bad gift? Nope. Bad Bride? Heck yes.

To read this entire story, check it out here on thespec.com

Congrats Lizzie & John!

Remember back in the beginning of the New Year when I told you how excited I was to be coordinating the wedding of Lizzie & John? Well, I've gotten my hands on some photos to share their beautiful and unique winter wedding with you!

Tying the knot on February 16th in Hamilton, these two movie buffs exchanged vows in front of their closest family and friends. With a theme of movies, red, white and black, they captured old hollywood charm.

Photos were captured by their friend Lindsay of Lindsay Taylor Photography and were taken at the RBG in Hamilton and the waterfront. The beautiful fascinator that the Bride wore is from my friend and industry professional Kalee at Frilly Bits.

The wedding ceremony and reception was held at Carmen's and was a fabulous event complete with cupcake from Sweetness Bakery, a homemade photo booth made by the Groom and his Groomsmen, and a choreographed dance by the Bride and her maids.

Congratulations to Lizzie & John! It was a pleasure to work alongside you on your special day, and I hope to spend more time with you in the near future with other events and opportunities. :)



The First Look at the RBG



How adorable are these Ring Bearers?



Nice legs ladies!



The Groom gives his coat to his Bride on the cold winter day.





Help Me, Help You

This line was made famous by the hit movie "Jerry Maguire" back in 1996. Gasp! 21 years ago.
Man, I feel old.

Anyhoo...this blog post is titled "Help Me, Help You" because we're offering a referral program from now until our 5th Anniversary on July 15, 2013.

We're going through a few changes behind the scenes with our logo, website, blog and services, but before our big reveal and celebration, we want to "show you the money!"

With each new Day of Coordination booking you send our way*, we will give you $50. Not only are you making money, but you are helping a friend or family member stress less on their wedding day. Our Day of Coordination services are the most popular for a reason - couples don't want to fret about the fine details, timing logistics and overall coordination of their big day.

Please tell anyone you know getting married in the Hamilton or surrounding area about us, and tell them to join us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and be sure to tell them to tell us that you referred them!

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you at your friend's wedding!!

*new bookings for 2013 or 2014 weddings only. Must be Day of Coordination services currently offered by The Bride's Butler (until July 15/13). Services must be booked at regular price ($900) and referral will not be paid until a deposit has been received.

Two years in a row!

I'm so excited to announce that I won the Diamond Award (1st Place) for the Hamilton Community Readers Choice Award for "Best People - Wedding Planner" for the second year in a row!

Thank you so much to everyone that voted and for your support! I'm so flattered to be recognized as a leading provider of exceptional service in the wedding industry in Hamilton.

The Bride's Butler has grown so much these past 5 years and we can't wait to show you what we have up our sleeve to celebrate our 5th Anniversary in July!

Thank you again to everyone! xo

The Art of Calligraphy

Is the art of calligraphy a thing of the past? Your mother, aunt and maybe even your older sister or cousin might remember hand writing all of their escort cards, place cards, etc for their wedding. Nowadays computers print most things for us as a variety of fonts, sizes and ink colours are available. So I gotta ask, would you use calligraphy? It's timeless and sets the tone for an elegant affair. It's what the Royals would use, and is oh-so-classy.

If you live in Hamilton, Ontario you can reach out to the Hamilton Calligraphy Guild to see if they have a member that could work with you for your wedding stationery. Or, you could hire a professional like Diane from "Calligraphy by Diane" who's located in Toronto and has hand written calligraphy for many Brides for their menu cards, programs and more.

With vintage weddings remaining popular, you might just want to consider calligraphy over the computer. Just a thought.

Happy planning!!

*Images from Calligraphy by Diane

They like me, they really like me!

I'm honoured and beyond excited to announced that I have been nominated for a Hamilton Readers Choice Award! Not only was I, Diane Morris nominated, but so was The Bride's Butler - which oddly means I'm competing against myself!! Two other local Planners are also competing along with me for the award.

Being recognized for this means that I'm doing what I set out to do - provide excellent service and support to my clients. It's a wonderful feeling to know that past clients are happy and thankful for the services I provided on their most special day.

Voting has begun and wraps up at noon on February 26th. If you'd like to vote, please select
"The Bride's Butler" under Best People - Wedding Planners. It's free to vote, you just need to register.

Thank you again to those that nominated me, and for those that voted. Since it's Award Season and all with the Oscars ahead, I'll go and prep my acceptance speech now....

We're offering NEW services!!

We're so excited to announce that we're now offering NEW services to better meet the needs of Brides & Grooms in the Hamilton, Ontario area.

Our most popular service, Day of Coordination will continue to book quickly, but to help those couples that don't think they need a professional on site ALL day, we're happily offering other services such as;

Set-Up:

Because you can't be two places at once, we'll take care of the set-up for your reception. While you're getting ready for your big day, you won't need to worry about the fine details like placing your escort cards, place cards, table numbers, menus, favours and any other elements you've planned.


Ceremony Coordination:

Weddings are all about bringing people together to celebrate the love and union of the Bride & Groom. Ceremonies are like a small production with a director, a choreographer and cast. We're there to assist you for when you say "I do."


Reception Coordination:

We drastically reduce stress for you, your Groom, wedding party and family members by managing the logistics that are included in hosting a reception.



Our website is currently being referbished by the lovely and fabulously helpful team at Lea Tea Designs, so be sure to check back soon for the refreshed look highlighting our NEW services!

Leigh & Derek are about to be a Mr & Mrs!

On Saturday, November 5th, Leigh & Derek will get married and become Husband & Wife. We're so happy to be able to celebrate in this occassion with them and provide Day of Coordination services.

Leigh booked us back in April when we were offering 30% off our most popular service in celebration of the Royal Wedding. We met in Ancaster and discussed her plans for their big day.

They will say "I do" at the Town Hall in Ancaster and will have their reception at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club. Leigh & I will be sitting down shortly to go over all her plans and details with a fine tooth comb. This way, she'll be able to enjoy her day and relax knowing that The Bride's Butler is there to execute, troubleshoot and bring her ideas to life!

We're so excited to be joining them on their special day! Click this link to see some of their engagement pictures from Nate at Red Lotus Photography. They are adorable, and we can't wait until the 5th!

Jenn & Stephen are getting married!

This Saturday, The Bride's Butler will be on hand to assist in Day of Coordination for Jenn & Stephen.

I met Jenn for the 1st time in person earlier this week (she lives in Alberta with her hubs-to-be) and let me just say, this gal is organized! I love it when I work with clients that have a binder full of all the proper documents, ideas and info needed to execute their special day.

Jenn & Stephen are getting married on October 15th at the beautiful and historic Scottish Rite in Hamilton. If the weather cooperates, they will have pictures taken on site and then at the legendary Hess Village. Gotta love the cobblestone, old buildings and the entrance sign to this Hamilton landmark. Their pictures will be simply wonderful, I just know it!

The reception of approximately 100 guests is being held at the Hamilton Convention Centre. Their colours and black & white with splashes of red. The red will be displayed via up-lighting provided by the HCC. Samantha, my Assistant for the day and myself are really looking forward to bringing all of Jenn's ideas and hard work to life on Saturday.

Jenn, like me is celiac, so her cake and cupcakes for her guests are coming from Sweetness Bakery. Hamilton has so many cupcake shops, but Sweetness guarantees peanut-free and provides gluten free options, which the majority of them don't. A girl always wants to have her cake and eat it too - especially on her wedding day!

We'll be sure to post some pictures from the wedding as they become available to us - but for now, here is a pic from their engagement session. What an adorable couple! We can't wait to be with them when they say "I do."

Calling all Singles!

Want to meet like-minded singles in Hamilton, Ontario? Well then, I've got an event you don't want to miss out on!

This Singles Event is a gathering for singles aged 25-35. If you're on Twitter, we encourage you to use #HamOntSE to tell others you are going!
You don't need to be on Twitter to participate, but it'll sure help to stay connected with some of the people you'll meet.

Tickets are $10 (plus a minimal surcharge) and will include appetizers, non-alcoholic beverages and door prizes.We're looking for 25 guys and 25 gals to meet, mingle and tweet!

The event will be held on September 15th at 7pm - please see http://www.hamontse.eventbrite.com/ for more information and to purchase your ticket!

Gather your friends, and make a night out of this event! You just never know who you might meet! :)

Follow us on Twitter - @BridesButler for updates, wedding tips & info and plain ol' fun!

PS - if you meet someone and things go down the right path, we're offering 10% off our services to all couples created by this Singles Event.


* 15 tickets for each guys and gals must be sold in order for this event to take place. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased separately. Please do not drink & drive.

Always a Bridesmaid?

Gosh, I don't like that saying...and I bet you don't either.

It's our job to make couple's wedding dreams happen, and now, we're going to make couples happen.

We're in the planning stages of a Singles Event - a gathering of singles, aged 25-35 that live in the Hamilton, Ontario area. If you're on Twitter, we encourage you to use #HamOntSE to tell others you are going! You don't need to be on Twitter to participate, but it'll sure help to stay connected with some of the people you'll meet.

Tickets will be $10 (plus a minimal surcharge) and will include appetizers, non-alcoholic beverages and door prizes.We're looking for 25 guys and 25 gals to meet, mingle and tweet!

We'll post more information about this event as it comes available.
For now, follow us on Twitter - @BridesButler for updates, wedding tips & info and plain ol' fun!

* 15 tickets for each guys and gals must be sold in order for this event to take place. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased separately. Please do not drink & drive.

Friendor Spotlight

Cupcake Diner: Natalie Ravoi

Cupcake Diner is Canada's first Mobile Cupcake Shoppe! Since we love cupcakes, we thought we'd feature Cupcake Diner (C.C.D) as our May Friendor.

You first started with Cakes by NatalieKay. How did you know you wanted to get into the cupcake/cake business?

Baking has always been a big part of my life and over the years this passion has grown and expanded into cake design. After completing my academic career in 2009 and having great success in my part time business; cakes by NatalieKay, I decided I wanted to pursue it full time.

This Spring you introduced Cupcake Diner, Canada's first mobile Cupcake shoppe. How did this idea come to be?

I knew I didn’t want to open just another cupcake store - it had to be something different, unique and one-of-a-kind! Cupcakes are a fun, glamorous indulgence and what better way to refresh the cupcake experience than a mobile cupcake shop! I love the concept of gourmet food trucks, but they remain foreign to Canada. I wanted to change that and bring Canada’s its very first cupcake truck.

What do you think it is about Cupcakes that make them so popular?

I would have to say variety, size and their fun factor.Cupcakes come in a variety of exciting flavours and their small size makes them the perfect snack any time of the day. Cupcakes have that “it factor” that makes you feel good. And now with the Diner, cupcakes are brought to you curbside - what could be more fun than that! Oh the possibilities!

Will you have anything else available on the Cupcake Diner?

You betcha! Did you know Cupcake Diner is also home of the Whoopie Pie and Pocket Pie? Visit us at the curb to see what your treat of choice will be!

Do you have a route that you will repeat continuously, or will the truck be cropping up randomly all over the city of Hamilton?
Each week we will post (on our cupcake calendar, Facebook and Twitter), the daily stops for that week. Also, daily we will post what cupcake flavours we have on board. The Diner will have set stops throughout the city that will rotate. Also, we will be listening to requests from Cupcake City and do our best to stop where you want us to be!

Cupcake Diner is available to book for events like weddings, how do you suggest Brides & Grooms use your service?
For all events, including weddings we offer cupcake trees, cupcake buffets, fondant covered cakes and the option to have the Diner live at your event. Specifically for weddings; there are two options - either after your ceremony (receiving line) or before your reception (cocktail hour) the Diner can pull up and serve mini cupcakes to all your guests. A fun experience your guests will never forget!

How much does it cost to have the C.C.D at an event? What does it include?
There are many packages available to accommodate events of all sizes; from small intimate gatherings to large social and corporate events. Please contact us for more information and quote.

Do you accommodate to allergies, dietary restrictions?

Yes, we offer Gluten-free/Vegan cupcakes! Mmmm.....

What kinds of flavours do you have on board the Diner?

All of our cupcakes are baked fresh daily using the freshest, finest ingredients. We support local farmers, fair trade and green initiatives. We believe in good old fashion service; our cupcakes are made with care and served with a smile. We have 25 curbside flavours, plus seasonal flavours. Flavours will rotate regularly with 4-6 flavours on board daily.

Where can we find C.C.D this Spring & Summer? You can find our Diner curbside in Hamilton, Ancaster and Dundas! Also, you can come visit us at our store  in the Hamilton Farmers Market (Opening Soon), and at some of Ontario’s most popular festivals including the Burlington Sound of Music Festival and Festival of Friends.

We hope you have a lot of fun with our 1950’s inspired mobile cupcake shoppe – See you @ the curb!

Thank you Natalie for telling our readers and Cupcake City (Hamilton) all about the Cupcake Diner! We look forward to working with you with clients who want to add some extra sweetness to their special day!

Friendor Spotlight

Foto Flare Photography: Lucas Shaughnessy

Choosing a Photographer for your wedding can be a stressful task as you want someone that is experienced, knowledgeable and friendly. The photos they capture will be ones you will cherish for the rest of your life.
Lucas is a Friendor of ours. Our Full Wedding Planning package includes referals to professionals in the Wedding Industry often times with discounts offered simply for being a client of The Bride's Butler.

I had the chance to interview Lucas about his services, specifically Engagement Sessions.

How long before the wedding should you have your engagement pictures done?
If you plan on using the images for your wedding invitations or save the date cards, have your engagement session as soon as possible. Otherwise you can leave your engagement session until just a few months (or days) before the wedding.

How do you suggest that couples incorporate their e-session pictures into their special day?
If you schedule your engagement session early enough, you could pick out your favorite photo and use it for your save the date cards – together we’ll design a custom announcement card that incorporates the photos.
Give your guests some eye candy and create a gorgeous guest signing book. That way, your guests will be able to leave their best wishes beside some of your favourite images.
A more traditional option is to have a framed print with a large mat that your guests can sign – that way you can hang it in your home after the wedding.

What do you like about Engagement sessions?
I love it when couples let me into their personal space so I can capture who they really are. When couples are relaxed, we can get some great photos that evoke emotion, passion and show your fun side. Use your engagement session as an opportunity to fall in love all over again and create images that represent you!

How long is a session, and what is your rate for them? Are they included in all of your packages?
Almost all of our collections include a 2hr engagement session. If they’re not included, they can be purchased for $340

What is your most favorite shot to capture on the wedding day? The vows, the first dance, etc....

I don’t really have a particular favorite shot, but I love moments with emotion - whether it is the father's first look at his daughter in the morning or the groom wiping away a tear while his soon to be wife walks down the aisle. Ultimately my favorite photos are when the couple and guests forget that I’m there and I can capture how they really felt at that exact moment.

What sets you apart from other photographers?
Who’s better to ask then some of my past couples. Here's what they have to say:

-“Not only are you very flexible & modern – you’re extremely creative & just different”

-“You had a way of listening to our vision for the wedding and then taking this and making it come alive in artistic and unique photographs”

-“You always manage to exceed my expectations. The final product is always more than I could have expected or imagined! This time proved it yet again”

Images of You

This is an image of my friends Rhiannon and Jenn ( a Bride-to-be) and myself at the Hamilton Bridal Show this past Saturday. The image of the 3 of us was taken at an exhibitor that was showcasing a mobile photo booth for events and weddings. (Sorry Jenn that you're sort of cut off, but being the stooge that I often can be I wasn't looking at the camera for the first take. LOL). The 3 of us had a good time together. The Bridal show was really busy and had plenty of '10 and '11 brides scrambling around to find the best of the best for their big day.

Working with a Wedding Planner can help you save the stress of going to Bridal Shows - unless of course you like to go. Sometimes the vendors we recommend can offer bigger discounts than the ones offered at bridal shows.

Images of You Photography is a vendor that we just love, and recommend to our clients. Deb will be at the Burlington/Oakville Bridal show on Jan 23-24 at the Burlington Convention Centre. While there, she'll be showcasing her work and offering a show discount on her services. If you're planning on going to the show, stop by, say 'hello' and tell her that I sent ya. She can show you her Bridal Show package price and show you the $150 Guest Book featuring your own enagement pictures that is her gift to you if you're a client of The Bride's Butler!

But, wait...there's more! Not only do the vendors I recommend offer discounts to my clients, but I also offer discounts to clients of my vendors! If you book your 2010 wedding with Deb, you can receive Day of Coordination services  (DOC) with us for 50% off! What a spectacular deal! We're not offering this with any other vendor!

For only $300 you'll get DOC services that include:

- An hour long meeting prior to the Wedding to discuss details

- Continuous support through phone calls or emails leading up to your big day from the moment you book with us.

- Coordination at Wedding Rehearsal (if desired)

- Wedding Day Management including set-up, ceremony, photo shoot, reception & clean up (from 8 to 12 hours on site)

We don't ever offer deals like this!

Remember though, if you book with Images of You first and then book with us to get the 50% off special, you'll not receive the complimentary Guest Book. Added value and discounts from our vendors are only for clients that book with The Bride's Butler and need assistance with choosing vendors for their wedding.

Most Wedding Planners will only refer vendors to their clients if booked for Consultation meetings or Full Wedding Planning services, but we believe that if you book us for Day of Coordination services well in advance (min of 6 wks) and need some guidance choosing a few (not all) of your vendors, we'll throw you some contact information at no charge, cause afterall, we'll be working with your chosen vendors on the day of, so why not have it be with people we know and trust?

So, what will you're image be while attending the Bridal Shows

 this month?

Happy? Excited? Tired? Stressed?

Let us know, leave a comment, send us an email, or post on our Facebook Fanpage.

Good luck & have fun!