Off Beat Brides

Dance to the sound of your own drum....that is the tune of Off Beat Bride - a website dedicated to unique, creative and sometimes outlandish weddings.

The website also features ideas for ceremony and reception themes - like Halloween, 1930's, rockstar, gothic and fantasy.

Check out the site...if there isn't anything on it that interests you and your style, you will at least have fun looking at some of the wild and kooky ideas of other real brides.

I always find something on this site that I like....check out the picture below. When Carolyn (the Bride) didn't know what to put on the back of her programs, she added different styles of mustaches. She says this way when she looked out into the crowd gathered to witness her vows she didn't imagine them all in her underwear to calm her nerves - instead they all had mustaches!! Creative, silly and unique!

Themed weddings have much more and often different elements than a "regular" wedding, so if you have the budget to hire a Planner, I recommend you do. It'd be a shame to have put so much time, effort, money and creativity into a themed wedding only for it to not all come together as planned.

Enjoy being offbeat, it is afterall Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

TRICK OR TREAT???

TREAT!!! When you book your 2010 Day of Coordination package with The Bride's Butler and you quote the word "mustache" in  your inquiry email (when you ask us to help you cause you want a professional to assist you with your wedding) - we will knock $100 off the total price!!!

Now, that's a good treat if you ask me! :)

Foto Flare Photography

Everyone say cheese!

Taking a picture with a professional on your wedding day isn't like getting your school photo done. There usually isn't too much of the "say cheese", or "smile!"anymore. Most photographers like to take what they call 'photojournalistic' pictures.

Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism that creates images in order to tell a story...like the events of your wedding day. You want your pictures to convey timeliness, objectivity, detail, narrative and emotion.

The Bride's Butler works with a few photographers that all have the ability, experience, knowledge and equipment to capture all of the moments from your special day.

We like to refer Lucas from Foto Flare to our clients. He has his own studio in Hamilton (302A Brucedale Ave E) - and has many packages available to meet the photography and budget needs of every Bride and Groom.

Any clients of The Bride's Butler that are refered to Lucas and decide to use him as their photographer will recieve a discount depending on the photo package you choose. We also have a discounted rate for clients of Foto Flare - so visit the studio to find out how you can save money!

I invite you to visit Lucas' website, blog and studio to see his photojournalistic photos. http://www.fotoflare.ca/

When you're looking for a photographer for your wedding,

do you know what questions to ask him or her?

Here are just a few......


Are you the only photographer in this company? If I hire you, am I guaranteed that you will be the one showing up to shoot my wedding?
Can you show me 3 or more complete weddings you’ve done?

Is color and B/W photography included or is there an extra fee for B/W?
Are you willing to come extra early to get shots of us (the couple) before the ceremony if we choose to do that?
Do you work with an assistant?


How many and what kind of cameras do you use? 


Do you offer a website and CD of my images? 


Ask your photographer plenty of questions, they should always be glad to answer them - it shows your care about their service and the product that they can create for you.



BB Tip #5

When compiling a list of photos that you 'must have' for your wedding, remember to keep it simple.
Immediate family, wedding party shots, and details (dress, shoes, cuff links, etc).
Your photographer will do their very best to capture every moment and emotion...and you as the Bride do your best to relax, enjoy and SMILE! :)

Creative goodies....

Mmmmm......

One of the most important aspects of a wedding (other than the vows of course) is the food.
As more and more couples are trying to make their wedding unique, and sometimes in crazy off the wall ways, I went looking for ideas on how to be different, yet still remain classy.

I was on a wedding blog the other day and came across a few ideas for favours and buffets that I thought were very creative...and also looked very yummy!

Cookies & Milk

What a great idea this is instead of your typical late night buffet. Serve shots of cold milk (you could have strawberry and chocolate flavoured ones too) and pair them up with homemade cookies - perhaps the Grooms favourite? Serve this idea either laid out on a table with some cookies wrapped 'to-go' with the recipe attached on a nice label with ribbon, or have this comforting treat served to guests on a tray (pictured) - only be sure each guest gets a napkin with their homemade treat.

This idea would also be a good one if children are at the reception. What child wouldn't like some milk & cookies before they are shuttled home to bed by mom and dad?

Ice Cream Sundae Bar     

This would be fantastic for not only a summer wedding, but for the theme of a Bridal Shower. It's a little messier than some regular dessert/snack options, but can be personalized by your guests by what they top their ice cream with! Offer all kinds of different toppings - ranging from the classic like coloured sprinkles to the not so classic like pretzel pieces. Display all of the toppings in nice dishes and be sure to have title tags for each so your guests know what they're eating. A sure way to eliminate some of the mess would be to have your venue

pre-scoop ice cream into dishes for your guests.
What a fantatsic idea....and don't forget the cherry on top!

S'mores

When I saw this idea I wanted to whip out my fondue set and try it right then! What a wonderful idea! I think this idea would be best suited as a dessert, where each table would have their own fondue set and goodies needed to make the yummy summer treat! Can you imagine the sight of all of your guests huddled around the centre of their tables making s'mores? Fantastic pictures!

Along with this treat, you have to have wet naps available as it could get a little messy.

There are plenty of different ways to have your favourite dessert or snack available at your wedding for your guests to enjoy along with you.

Think about some of the things you enjoyed as a child, or about treats you shared with your fiance during your courtship. Almost any idea can be brought to life these days. Use your imagination!

Ask your Wedding Planner for some ideas if you're having troubles thinking of something different and creative. We at The Bride's Butler can find almost anything you need to satsify your sweet tooth.

Bon Appetite!

Pictures provided by www.bridalpartytees.com/blog.

The Bride's Butler would be more than happy to recreate these images for you for your wedding or event.

Congratulations Liz & Devon King!!

Liz and Devon got married over the Thanksgiving weekend. John's sister has been planning her wedding for the past 18 months, and asked me to help her along the way. We met a few times for a few hours in the months leading up to her big day, and I acted as their Wedding Planner on the wedding day.

Liz and Devon got married at Town Hall in Ancaster, and took an old fashioned fire truck (cause Devon is a firefighter) down to the reception at The Art Gallery of Hamilton. It was an awesome sight - and a great photo opportunity for guests! The wedding was a cocktail reception with approximately 165 guests.

Given the fact that they had an 18 person bridal party...>gasp<...I know, that's a lot.. the day went well with very little issues. With such a large Wedding Party (WP), it was quite the task to keep them all focused, doing their duties (ushering guests most specifically) and keeping them out of the ceremony hall before it started!

Once we all got to the Art Gallery, again it was hard keeping track of where all of them (WP) where, and were going - outside for a smoke, to grab a drink, to talk with family/friends...it got a little frustrating chasing them around to prepare for their 'Grand Entrance' - but in the end, everything went well and was beautiful.

Liz looked fabulous, and I've got to say, was quite the calm bride. She was always smiling, and just wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time - and they were!

Her colours were ivory, purple and yellow - so both venues (ceremony & reception) had sunflowers, gourds and mini pumpkins placed throughout for the 'fall' theme.

This was my first Cocktail Reception wedding, and it's a good concept - very relaxed - but I do stress that you must have enough food on hand. Guests could choose from appetizer sized items that consisted of cheeses, breads, cold meats, antipasto, pasta and veggie/meat skewers. I noticed that many guests went up to the food table more than once, more than twice - sometimes 3 or 4 times!!  They even ran out of coconut shrimp within the first 20 minutes... they must have been a favourite! Thankfully Liz & Devon were saved some to enjoy later by the Catering Manager.

 The bar was open right from the get go, and the dance floor was always hopping.

Once the speeches were taken care of, I tried my best to be there as a guest and enjoy the wedding with my family, but my Planner instincts kept clicking in. I made sure that the bouquet toss, garter retrieval and the cake cutting were all done on time. Devon even said to me - "oh, thanks for reminding us, we would have forgotten!" And that happens - Brides and Grooms sometimes will forget to follow timelines because they are enjoying themselves so much and having fun. Just another excellent reason to have a Wedding Planner.

 

Congratulations Liz & Devon...you had a beautiful wedding filled with love, laughter, family & friends!

All the best!!

BB Tip # 4:  Only ask close friends and family to be in your WP. More than 3 or 4 on each side will most likely be unmanageable. Remember, just because you have more hands does not necessarily mean you will get more help.

Congratulations Leah & David Craig!

Yesterday The Bride's Butler was on hand to help Leah & David with their wedding at The Edgewater Manor. The ceremony was to take place outside, but given the overcast and wind, we decided to have it indoors - and thankfully so, as they were saying their vows it started to pour!


My assistant for the day was Ashley, she's in college for Tourism & Events and would like to be a Wedding Planner. She currently works part-time at Invitations by SanSheira’s in Burlington, so when it came time to decorate the wedding and tie bows - she was my savour! She did a great job all day!

Since the ceremony was held indoors, that left us with just a little over an hour to flip the room over into the reception dining hall for 70 guests. With just Ashley, myself and 2 staff members from the venue, we managed to do it with 10-15 minutes to spare! Because of the limited staff from the venue, Ashley and I even set the tables with the dinnerware and napkins! Anything goes when you have a deadline...as a Wedding Planner you need to wear plenty of hats, and look good in all of them!

Leah's vision for the day was beautiful - inspired by nature and quite unique. He colours were green, brown and ivory. Her menu consisted of locally grown vegetables, and her favours for her guests was a white spruce tree planting kit. Her and David also donated to Tree Canada as part of their favour. Fantastic idea!

One aspect that was the most fun in setting up was displaying the Candy Buffet. David likes salty treats, and Leah likes Sweet - so the table was a mixture of both! Guests were encouraged to fill take out Chinese boxes with goodies prior to their departure.

The cake was magnificent and the aroma of the vanilla could be enjoyed anywhere with a ten foot radius of the cake table!

Overall, the wedding was fabulous. Her bridesmaids were very helpful with the initial set up (flowers, outside decorations, and taking care of Leah) - and her MC was wonderful and easy-going.

The Edgewater Manor was a great venue for this romantic intimate wedding.


Wishing Leah & David all the best!


BB Tip #3 -
Have your wedding on a Sunday like Leah did - it will be less costly than a Friday or Saturday.

Wedding by the Water

This Sunday, I have the pleasure of assisting Leah and David with their outdoor wedding at Edgewater Manor in Stoney Creek.

Leah is a very organized bride who found me through the Let Them Eat Cakes tasting party earlier this year.
We have been working together since May, and I'm so excited to be coordinating their special day!

The ceremony will be outside (if it doesn't rain...here's hoping!), and then the reception will be held inside the beautiful restaurant. My assistant for the day will be Ashley, and the two of us will prepare the facility for the spectacular event!

Deb from Images of You (who I referred to Leah) will be there for the photos. I snuck a peek at their engagement shots and they are fabulous...I can't wait to see the wedding pictures!

All the best to Leah & David this Sunday, October 4th!!!

Bride's Maid, meet Bride's Butler.

"Nice to meet you."

The Bride's Butler has dealt with a few Bridesmaids in the past year since we started the business. So far, almost all of our experiences with Bridesmaids have been good ones.

When you're asked to be a Bridesmaid (BM), or Maid/Matron of Honour (MOH) for your friend's, relative's or sister's wedding - it is an honour, and one that if you accept, the responsibilities shouldn't be taken lightly. As my best friend has said before, "being in a wedding party doesn't mean that it's all fun and games, it's not an excuse just to party - it's hard work" - and she's right. Although there will be plenty of partying and fun had during the planning process and leading up to the wedding day, there is a lot of work to be had.

Do you know some of your responsibilities as a Bridesmaid?

Sure you do... help the bride find her dress - offer advice and opinion on favours, flowers, colours, etc - help with the Bridal Shower, Stag & Doe and Bachelorette Party - and of course support her on her wedding day.

As a Bride, do you know what you can do to make the role of a Bridesmaid a pleasant one?

Respect Their Responsibilities
Be respectful to their lives outside of your wedding, and try to keep a good balance of duties between Bridesmaids - you don't want one thinking they are pulling more weight than the other. The only one with a bigger 'to do' list might be your MOH.

Dress Them Well
Consider each of their body types, skin tone, hair colour and personality. If they are all different, maybe have the same colour but in different dress styles. You want them to be comfortable and feeling confident in their dress. And realistically, they probably will not ever wear the dress again.

Mind Their Budgets
Be mindful as to how much time and money a Bridesmaid will spend on your wedding. The dress, hair, make-up, shoes, purse, the parties, the gifts - you name it, there is a price tag attached.

Give & Receive Graciously
Remember your manners. Be sure to thank your BM's and MOH for their hard work and dedication over the past 12-14mths. Whatever they do for you is out of the kindness of their heart, so don't complain if your Bridal Shower theme/decor wasn't exactly as you planned or hoped for - it was a gift from your BM's, and they should be thanked for it. This is usually second nature for most people to be gracious...let's hope.

Be A Good Friend
Just remember the first bit of advice in this blog - 'remember that they have their own lives'. Even though it's your wedding "year", be sure to talk about their lives, problems and successes too. You can only talk about your wedding so much.

*Source: The Knot.com

Quite the Exquisite Affair

This weekend I had the privilege of assisting Erin from Exquisite Affairs. She's a fantastic Wedding Planner who is certified by WPIC also, and from time to time we planners help each other out. The wedding was an outdoor ceremony in Niagara Falls in the beautiful Oak Garden Theatre. The marriage of Esther and Michael was blessed with good company and good weather.

As an Assistant, it was my responsibility to aid the lead Coordinator in any way possible. My role included attending the rehearsal on Friday, and helping with set-up for the ceremony on Saturday. We set up 120 chairs, an archway, the signing table and a beautiful rose aisle all in under an hour!

The experience was not only enjoyable, but also educational. It's always good to see how other Coordinators do their job, and it's always nice to learn a few extra's you didn't know before. In this industry there is always something new to learn, try and do!

The reception took place in the elegant Elements restaurant - which was formally Table Rock. It sits upon the falls and has a panoramic view of the cascade. Simply Exquisite!

I look forward to working many more weddings, as either a Lead Coordinator or Assistant. To be a part of the most special day of two people's lives is one of the best and most rewarding feelings. I love my job!

All the best to Esther and Mike!!

Why hire a Planner??

There are many reasons why couples should hire a planner. When you are planning your wedding and you're reading the magazines, websites and the books for "how to's" and "do's & don't's" most likely  you will see the suggestion to hire a Wedding Planner. There is a reason why they mention this idea...it's a good one!

Here are a few reasons why I think Bride's should hire a Planner.....


#1 - The Bride’s Butler can save you money

We can provide discounts that are only offered through working with a Planner.

I work with plenty of vendors like florists, invitation specialists and photographers - all ready to offer you a value add or discount you couldn't get being a 'walk in' client.

#2 - Less Stress

Take ease in knowing that a professional is working with you to plan the most important day of your life.

As a WPIC (Wedding Planners Institute of Canada) certified Planner, I can take care of all of the problem solving and hiccups for you during your wedding so you don't have to. You'd be surprised by the amount of "behind the scenes" work that goes into executing a wedding....it's a major event!


#3 -You have little time to properly plan your wedding

It takes on average 250 hours to plan a wedding.

With most couples working full time, part-time, shift work or raising kids, it's hard to find the time and dedication to plan your wedding. By hiring The Bride's Butler, we can do some of the leg work for you!
Full Wedding Planning services include having the planner set up meetings with vendors and then attend the meetings, aid you in contracts and agreements, and also be your "go to" person for all the small details....including securing all your favour tags on the gifts, or helping you stuff envelopes, anything that will help you out for your big day!

#4 -You are a detail oriented and organized individual

You cant be 2 places at once on your wedding day.

As the Bride you simply can't set up your hall during the morning because you are to be getting ready for your special day! With a lot more weddings taking place on Fridays & Saturdays, your venue needs to be set up the morning of your wedding - thus not allowing you to oversee the details and the set up instructions. That is the job of the Planner. We are with you for up to 12-14 hours during the day of your wedding.
It's a great feeling to know that all you have to be on your wedding day is the Bride (and not the janitor, decorator or coordinator)!

# 5- Hindsight is 20/20

Ask almost any bride, and she’ll tell you that if she was to plan her wedding again, she would have hired a Planner.

Self explainatory. :)

BB Tip #2 -
When hiring a planner, ask for references, portfolio pictures and check to see if they are certified.

Congrats Konika & Prathab

Konika & Prathab's wedding was wonderful last night! They both looked fantastic, and I know that they had a fantastic time with their family and friends.
Konika had hired me for Day Of Coordination (DOC) only, and was very organized with her instructions and details for me and my assistant. However, like most events, there were a few glitches along the way. I would recommend that as a planner, or a DYI Bride, be sure to confirm with the vendors prior to the event (preferably the day before) about their arrival time and responsibilities. A few too many vendors were late showing up yesterday. It's frustrating when that happens as it puts the entire schedule that the bride has worked so hard at creating out of sync. Having a Planner helps with these types of situations - and situations like a bridesmaid spilling her glass of red wine on the place cards BEFORE guests arrive, or like the lighting in the reception hall not working 15 mins before you open the doors to the guests awaiting in the lobby!!!! (Yes, they both happened yesterday)
Overall though, everyone had a great time, the venue looked fabulous and the couple were satisfied. The Bride's Butler wish Konika & Prathab all the best!

BB TIP #1:

Always have an extra info sheet with guests names and table numbers available incase of a 'wine' or any other mishap. :)

1st Offical wedding!!

Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog. As I start blogging for the first time, I hope to be able to share with you experiences as a Wedding Planner - not only for other brides, but for myself! I launched my business part time last summer and have been able to secure a few weddings this year. My first official wedding as "The Bride's Butler" is for the beautiful Konika and her fiance Prathab. Konika found out about me from Wedding Wire, and I'm so excited to be aiding her in her wedding this Saturday! The wedding is being held at Riviera Parque in Concord, Ontario and is a Moroccan themed party! It's been a long time coming for me to have my own Wedding Planning business, so I'm thrilled that it is finally happening. Lots of hard work and dedication. The Bride's Butler wishes Konika and Prathab the best on their wedding day, August 29/09!