Find the "lime" to relax & enjoy the summer....

Bud Light Lime's motto right now is "The Summer State of Mind" - and we recommend that you try to do just that - enjoy the moment, enjoy the summer, and enjoy good food with friends.

If you're heading up to the cottage this long weekend, or going camping, or are about to host a bbq, birthday party, or even a bridal shower, I've got some yummy recipes made easy with the help of Bud Light Lime.

Bud Light Lime Braised Shrimp

Makes 36 pieces

½ cup Olive Oil (Light)

10 cloves Garlic (large, diced)

12 oz. Bud Light Lime

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
36 pieces shrimp (raw, peeled, deveined)
6 limes cut in half
Salt and black pepper to taste
6 oz. Extra Dry Vermouth

In a large skillet, on high heat, add the olive oil and garlic. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shrimp, season with cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Cook 2 to 3 minutes and then add the Bud Light Lime and limes. Finish cooking the shrimp, about 5 more minutes or until shrimp are firm and white inside. Add the Vermouth and serve.

Wok Seared Lime & Teriyaki Sea Scallops

Serves; 4

12 large, fresh Sea Scallops
5 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Hot sauce to taste
Teriyaki sauce to taste
Sea salt to taste

1 Red Bell pepper, julienned

½ lb. Sugar snap peas, trimmed and cleaned
½ lb. Bean Sprouts
2 tsp. Lime juice
6 oz. Bud Light Lime

You will need to cook the Scallops in two batches, so the wok does not get crowded.

Heat the wok over high heat; add two tablespoons of olive oil. When the oil is hot add six scallops, a couple dashes of hot sauce and a couple dashes of teriyaki. Sear both sides, about 2 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from wok and repeat cooking process for the next batch of scallops.

Turn heat down to medium, add to the wok one tablespoon of olive oil and red bell peppers, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the sugar snap peas, sprouts, lime juice, Bud light Lime and several generous dashes of teriyaki. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Return all the scallops to the wok, gently toss, season with sea salt to your taste and serve.

When I think of kickin' back in the summer, I can't help but think of "Toes" by the Zac Brown Band.

Cheers to great food, good times and enjoying a "summer state of mind".

* be responsible, don't drink and drive
* recipes courtesy of Edelman PR for Bud Light Lime

My Fair Lady

Came across these beautiful wedding photos on Love & Lavender while perusing the 'Wedding Blog' circuit. How adorable are these shots from a Winnipeg, Canada wedding?

Photos were taken by Simply Rosie Photography.

Enjoy!

Take your wedding to the location of your choice for your photos - somewhere that speaks to both of you, one that you'll have fun at, and a location that you'll remember your entire life.

'What not to Wear' to a Wedding

As a woman, I’m sure you’ve seen the show “What Not to Wear” on TLC. If I were to host an episode, it would be about what not to wear to a wedding. Instantly, I can think of some major “no no’s” and a few fashion faux pas.

If you’re attending a wedding, here’s 4 things you need to know when you’re picking out what to wear.

#1 – Don’t wear white!

It’s majorly frowned upon to wear white to a wedding – that colour should only be worn by the Bride. You should also stay away from colours such as ivory, champagne, pale peach or light silver (these colours can look white in photos). If you want to wear white, it should be in a patterned dress either as the pattern itself or as the foreground colour.

#2 – Keep the length reasonable

Short dresses are very popular these days, but you shouldn’t wear a dress that is more than 1 inch above your knee to a wedding. Cocktail dresses are a better choice than long dresses. The length of your dress should be either 1” above your knee, at your knee, or just below your knees.

#3 – Coordinate with the time of day & season

Black dresses shouldn’t be worn to daytime weddings. Summer dresses shouldn’t be worn in the winter (unless paired with a pretty cardigan that will stay on through the entire wedding) – and choose your shoes properly too. This is common sense stuff.

#4 – Mind your straps

According to an article featured in The Spectator, you should avoid strapless and spaghetti straps. Choosing straps that are 2 fingers in width is best – and obviously more classy. But, times have changed, and I know that strapless dresses are worn often – so if you go with a strapless or spaghetti strap, be sure that the dress fits – don’t be adjusting your top all night, don’t show any signs of a bra (although you MUST wear one, we just don't want to see the straps or the back of it) and make sure the spaghetti straps don’t slide off your shoulders. A good fit goes a long way.

Be conscious of other guests and the theme of the wedding when picking your outfit. Be mindful of cultural traditions, and do research if you're not sure – for example, Chinese traditions frown upon guests wearing red as that colour is typically reserved for the Bride. If you’re still not sure what to wear, and don’t want to cross any boundaries, the best suggestion I can give is for you to consult the Bride as she’s the one that has planned and envisioned her special day for months.



*post generated from personal opinion & articles featured in The Spectator & Project Wedding's Blog
* pictures from Google images

"The Versus Series" Part II

Wedding Coordinator versus Venue Coordinator

You've booked your wedding at a venue that has a "Wedding Coordinator" so you think that you don't need to hire another one, right? On most cases - wrong. A lot of  venues (like banquet halls & golf clubs) come equipped with their very own 'Wedding Coordinator' - but these people, whom might I say are fantastic and helpful, are there for the venue - not for you. They're there to coordinate the logistics of their staff to ensure proper timing of menu courses. Your Wedding Coordinator is there to work for you.  When you have your own Wedding Coordinator (Day of Coordination services), she will work together with the Venue Coordinator for details such as lighting, set up and the menu.

A Wedding Coordinator is there for all aspects of your wedding - from the moment you get ready, to when you walk down the aisle, to your photo shoot and lastly at your reception (the venue).

A Venue Coordinator is only available to you during the last and final aspect of your major event - and even then, if you're getting married in a venue that has more than just your wedding occurring that day, the Venue Coordinator isn't 100% dedicated to your wedding - like your Wedding Coordinator is.

There are many logistics to a wedding, some guests see, others they don't. Having a Wedding Coordinator just for you, your Groom & Wedding Party is a fantastic investment to ensure that all of your hard work, time and planning details are executed and taken care of. Your Wedding Coordinator is selected by you - so you can choose a Coordinator that you feel most comfortable with - unlike a Venue Coordinator who just comes as part of your 'package'.

Having your own Wedding Coordinator (WC) relieves a ton of stress and allows you to enjoy your day. Just ask any Bride who hired one for their wedding and they'll agree - hiring a Coordinator was money well spent.


Imagine your up-coming wedding day.......

While you’re getting ready, who’s making sure the ceremony site is set up fabulous? Your WC.

When guests arrive at the ceremony site who’s making sure your programs are being distributed? Your WC.

Who preps you to walk down the aisle and adjusts your train?
Your WC.

When you're on the photo shoot who provides an Assistant to escort you to keep track of timing? Your WC.

Who works with the Venue Coordinator to ensure proper set up & placement of details? Your WC.

When vendors arrive (cake, DJ,) who greets them & makes sure they're following the set contract? Your WC.

Who has an Emergency Kit full of items that will help with any issue that may arise? Your WC.

(things happen...like a ripped seam, or a broken boutonnière. You don't want or need to worry about those things - that's the Planner's job)

You get the idea. You don't want to have to worry or even slightly think about these finer details and logistics....that's why you need your very own Wedding Coordinator.

Have some questions for us? Call or email, we'd be happy to meet with you to discuss our Wedding Services and how we can help you on the most important day of your life.

* pictures courtesy of Images of You Photography

* post inspired by post by Every Last Detail

"The Versus Series" Part I

Full Wedding Planning versus Day of Coordination.

Both are services provided and executed by a Wedding Planner (sometimes also known as a Wedding Coordinator). Depending on your budget, personality and expectations for your special day will depend on what service you choose.

Full Wedding Planning is a service that’s best suited for couples that know what kind of wedding they want, but have little time (and sometimes patience, energy and desire) to get it all completed in a set timeframe.

Sometimes, we see Brides who are very laid back choose this option, as they’d rather have someone make all the decisions for them. Other Brides that like the Full Wedding Planning service are ones that don’t have any family or friends living in the city they will wed (thus your Planner becomes your new BFF), and sometimes this service is used by Brides whom are getting married away – either in another city (perhaps the Groom’s hometown) or in another country (beach wedding).

Wedding Planners (WP) are hired for this service to help Brides & Grooms with all of the event logistics, details and decisions. From aiding in theme development, to choosing vendors – this service is typically started 12-14 months from the wedding date. Your Wedding Planner can arrange meetings with vendors, review contracts and help you create your budget & timeline.

This service also includes your Wedding Planner being on-site for your wedding day. She’ll be with you as you get ready, and for the ceremony, pictures and reception. She’s there to troubleshoot any logistics that may go array, and they most likely will – a wedding is a major event – stuff happens. Having a Wedding Planner working for you ensures that you can enjoy your day as a Bride and savor each moment with your Groom.

Then, there is Day of Coordination. This service is great for DYI Brides whom have planned their entire wedding themselves but want a Planner make their wedding planning dreams a reality.

This service is typically booked 8-12 months in advance, but the real ‘magic’ doesn’t start until 3-4 months before your big day. Your Wedding Planner will meet with you for a logistical meeting consisting of gathering all components of your event. You will work together to form a timeline for the day, and will go over every detail with a fine tooth comb – from your venue floorplan, to the placement of your favors, guest book and menu cards. She will get all of your vendor information and copies of all contracts, and will get information for ‘key’ players in your wedding like the Limo Driver, Officiant and Best Man. The Wedding Planner (WP) is there to work for you to ensure that all of your hard work, time and money are executed in a way that you’ve always imagined.

If you have any questions about either of these services, please send us and email or give us a call. We’d love to meet with you to decide which service is best suited for you.


* pictures courtesy of Images of You Photography
* post inspired by post by Every Last Detail

I'm Canadian, eh?

A post to my homeland, Canada.

Canadians like to party! We enjoy hosting guests for gatherings of all sorts. We're polite, we drink pop - not soda, we can legally drink at 19 - not 21, and we love Tim Hortons!

If you’re Canadian, you might be entertaining guests for a picnic or BBQ this Canada Day long weekend – so, to help you out with your entertaining, here are some "Canadian" recipes ideas from the folks at Canadian Living & Kraft Canada.

Start off your meal with a 'Toast to the PEI coast' with “Beer & Bacon Mussels”. Then cook salmon on cedar planks on the barbeque to create “Cedar Planked Salmon with Maple Mustard Glaze”. Add to this dish with the “Great Canadian Potato Salad”.  Mmm..... :)

For dessert try either “Maple Leaf Sugar Cookies”, “Beaver Cupcakes” or the classic “Canada Flag Cake”

If you're not Canadian, we know that you secretly wish you were. Check out this funny video for a good laugh.

Whatever you decide to do to enjoy with family and friends this holiday weekend, do it with pride for this beautiful country.

With glowing hearts ,We see thee rise, The true, north, strong, and free.

Happy Canada Day, eh!

*Please celebrate in style – don’t drink and drive.

True Colours

"But I see your true colors shining through. I see your true colors and that's why I love you, so don't be afraid to let them show your true colors, true colors are beautiful like a rainbow." ~Cyndi Lauper

Choosing your colour palette for your wedding is one of the most pivotal components of the planning process – other than choosing a date and venue. The colours (or colour) you choose will help set the tone, mood, theme and style of your wedding. This decision may come easy, but for others choosing a colour theme might be somewhat daunting.
Below are some helpful hints on how to choose colours for your wedding day.


Big Picture

Take a look at your surroundings. What colours does your venue already have within in it? Is it a yacht club with nautical accents? A golf & country club with naturalistic elements, or is it a banquet hall with gold pillars? For inspiration to get you started, look to the prominent colours of your site or setting.

Maybe the Season is your reason

Perhaps you will choose red, silver and grey for your winter wedding. Or maybe you’re getting married in the fall and you want to play up the colours of the leaves (red, orange, yellow, brown). Whatever the season may be when you get hitched, let the environment help be your guide when choosing your colours.

Trends
Every wedding season has its most popular wedding colours. Check out wedding blogs, magazines and television shows for ideas and inspiration. One of our favourite blogs for colours inspiration is The Perfect Palette. We also like this fun colour palette - you just might find something new about yourself.


Hue do you think you are?
All of the colours of the rainbow have a variety of offspring called ‘hues’. Sure, there is red – but then there’s Scarlett, Maroon, Salmon, Tomato, Cherry, Blush and Coral. Be sure to find out what your colour choice is called. Find a fabric swatch or paint chip if you can that is similar to the colour you’ve envisioned. This will help you when choosing other elements – most specifically stationary.


Consistency is key

Whichever colour you choose, be sure to stay consistent with your choice throughout all of your wedding details. For example, if you decide to have brown as your sole colour, you can incorporate different hues and textures of the colour into your event – but if you have 2 or more colours that aren’t from the same ‘hue’ family, say hot pink and navy, you should try to stay as close to the original colour as possible. Consistency is key and helps maintain the theme, mood, tone and style of your wedding.

Overall, have fun with your colours – make them mean something to you and your groom. Maybe they are your high school colours cause that’s where you met, or maybe they’re derived from your birthstones, or even the national colours of the country you’re visiting on your honeymoon. The choices are endless, and you pretty much have the scale of the rainbow to choose from.

This blog post was inspired by an article featured on www.theknot.com.
“15 Tips for choosing your wedding colours” by Amy Keith.
Images from Google search.

I do...now, pass the remote.

Are you a sucker for weddings?

I’m such a sucker for weddings – obviously, I’ve made a job out of them, but really – I’m a sucker for the romance, the commitment and the union.

At weddings for family, friends and clients, I will with no doubt shed a tear of joy as the couple say their vows and the minister officially announces that they are ‘husband and wife’. So, when thinking about how much I’m a sucker for weddings, I was reminded of some of my most favourite wedding scenes from TV. Yep, you’ve got it; even fictional characters can make me cry.

Which TV weddings top my list?

Meredith Grey & Derek Shepherd – Grey’s Anatomy

Monica & Chandler – Friends

Charlotte &  Harry – Sex & the City

Marshall & Lily – How I Met Your Mother

Alex &  Izzie – Grey’s Anatomy

What about you?

Which TV character’s nuptials made you go “aww….”?

Getting married in 2011?

Time's a tickin'!

Are you getting married in 2011?

Planning your wedding is fun and exciting, but it's also very time consuming and taxing on your energy & patience level - trust me, I know. Not only do I help Brides plan their wedding, but I'm also currently planning my own wedding for October 2, 2010.

When you plan your own wedding, you get entrenched in all of the fine details - the colour of the linens, the placement of the menu cards, the table names, the ceremonial readings, the choice of songs, the seating chart, and the list goes on and on.

Planning is great, and being prepared is wonderful - but what about executing all of your plans? While you're busy being a blushing Bride, this is where The Bride's Butler comes in handy. :)

Book us for Day Of Coordination services for your 2011 wedding now so you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you'll save yourself the worry of the finer details on your big day!

Don't let time be your enemy...book today! Give me a call, or send me an email and we'll chat about how we can work together on your wedding day. The Day Of Coordination package includes over 30 hours of service, and will help ease your mind knowing that a professional and dedicated Planner is working for you to ensure that your wedding day is the finest it can be!

Other Coordinators charge upwards of $900+ for Day of Coordination services, but we know that working within a budget for wedding planning is key, therefore we keep our fees reasonable - our Day of Coordination package starts at $600.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

The 3-Day Response Rule & Promptly saying Thank You

Did you know that according to proper wedding etiquette, you are to respond to an invite within 3-days? I’ve got to admit that even I haven’t been that quick with responding on more than one occasion.

Sometimes you take longer than 3-days to respond because…
A) You’re not sure if you’re available/can get the time off work, etc
B) If you’re single, you’re not sure to respond as a single or a duo
C) If it’s a destination wedding, you’ve got to factor in vacation time and money into your response decision.

Figuring out any of those options in 3-days is perhaps to some, a little unrealistic - but, etiquette, like any good manners, have rules. Sadly, in today’s society, rules are more likely to be ‘rule of thumb’ rather than proper protocol.

So whether you’re invited to a wedding, bridal shower, bachelorette party or rehearsal dinner, I suggest you do your best to respond quickly – at least within the week you received the invitation – 2 weeks maximum, but definitely before the RSVP due date! It’s unfair that hosts (mainly Brides) have to call their invited guests to confirm their attendance. As a guest, you’ve been selected among many and welcomed to take part in a joyous life event - the least you can do is let the host know that you’d be honoured to attend…or not.

My take on RSVP…. Respond Sincerely & Very Promptly. (This also means if you respond yes, keep your promise and go. No one likes to be blacklisted as the person/couple that didn’t show. Empty seats at a wedding are a big no-no.)

So now that we’ve ‘lectured’ or rather ‘informed’ the guests on proper etiquette – what about the Bride & Groom? They must have some rules to follow too, right? Of course!

Promptly saying Thank You to your guests for everything and anything that they do for you is a must. Some family and friends do more than just ‘show up’ to your event – they give you heartfelt gifts and cards, they offer to help you with DYI details and other wedding/event logistics and sometimes even if they aren’t invited to the wedding they offer to look after your pet and or your house while you’re at your wedding and your honeymoon. Any nice gesture needs a thank you.

It’s most manageable to write and send out Thank You cards as you receive gifts before your wedding. This way it doesn’t feel like you have a whole stack of cards to personalize and sign either before or right after your big day.

Thank You cards should be sent out no later than 6 months after your wedding, anything longer than that is simply distasteful. Plus, if you have a Bridal Shower (or sometimes 2 or 3), you should really strive to have Thank You cards for those gifts sent out before your wedding day. Usually guests give you a gift for your shower, and for your wedding, thus equalling two Thank You cards for two separate gifts – one from just you, the Bride and the other from both of you as a happily married couple.

Images from www.prettypaperinvitations.com
Post based on article found on www.weddingaces.com - "RSVP Today If You Please"

Cubby Wubby was a car!

For this Planner, Cubby Wubby is no bear!
Cubby Wubby gets me from here to there!

Recently I purchased a Nissan Cube. I like to call it the 'cubby'.

CUBE = CUB + E. 

The word Cube just doesn't sound as cute for a girl's car than a cubby does.

Maybe you'll spot us driving in and around Hamilton with our

magnetic "The Bride's Butler" signs on the doors

 (made and purchased on the fabulous vistaprint.com)

and if you do, please say hello!

Cubby Wubby was a car, Cubby Wubby travels near and far!

Top This!

If you’re having a wedding cake for your special day, I’m sure you’ve put some thought into what the cake topper might be, right?


Back in the day they used to use plastic bells or silk flowers to adorn the top of their cake, but nowadays the choices are endless. It’s bad enough that you have to decide on the size and height, flavour, colour, and texture of your cake, but now, you’ve also got to decide on what to top it all off with.

Toppers can be traditional or unique, vintage or modern, or can match your theme, colour or your personalities. Popular toppers are monograms and Bride & Groom figurines.

Here are some wedding cake toppers we like.

The Bobble Head Bride & Groom - custom made to look like you!

Love this just because it's Disney!

Weddingstar's "Kissing Couple" topper. 

Your names woven into wire. Can be found on Etsy.com

Willow Tree's "Promise" cake topper.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

This past Sunday I hosted a Baby Shower for my Sister-in-law (SIL) Shannon and my nephew Cole. In a previous post I'd mentioned how I was tossing around ideas for a theme and then finally decided, but wanted to keep it a secret. The theme was baseball!  My SIL plays and umpires, and the sport has always been played by my Dad (Pops) and my brother (Cole's Dad).

The invitations were made to look like ticket stubs and even had one of our favourite quotes from a baseball movie; Field of Dreams -"If you build it, he will come."

Guests were treated to a lunch of hotdogs, nachos with cheese, an aray of salads and cupcakes (baked by yours truly).

For the favour we had a Candy Buffet with baseball treats like caramel corn, peanuts, pretzels, gum, gummies, pepperettes and Baby Ruth chocolate bars! Guests could fill up small paper bags with their choice of treats to take home.

Instead of a guest book we asked guests to sign a baseball as a memento.

Shannon and Cole were surrounded by many family and friends and I think that everyone had a great time. Cole was spoiled!! Shown here is the little cutie with a 'big boy' hat from Roots given with love from my Aunt Bev.

Congrats once again Jack & Shannon on the birth of baby Cole!

It was a pleasure hosting the shower for you.

Saturday's Soiree

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of assisting Kelly & Mike with their wedding.

Kelly had contacted me in December when we were offering $100 off Day of Coordination Services.

Kelly is the type of Bride that wanted a Planner onsite so that she didn’t have to worry about managing her bridal party, family and friends. She also didn’t want to worry about logistics like décor set-up and the very important timeline. Kelly works for an insurance company, so everyday in her career she’s looking after others, so she wanted to make sure that her day was all about her and Mike…and it was!

Congrats to Kelly & Mike for planning and hosting a fabulous wedding! The colour scheme was black, white and champagne with traces of damask and lace. Kelly & Mike had their reception at The Burlington Convention Centre – the staff there is fabulous and the food was well served and very tasty! The wedding cake was stunning and Kelly even surprised Mike with a Groom’s cake (hot new trend alert!!) because of his love of soccer. The weather was beautiful and there were only a few minor issues that arose throughout the day- which is bound to happen, it’s all part of executing a major event. Thankfully, Samantha my Assistant for the day and myself were ready for almost anything.

What are some things we helped make better and less stressful for Kelly & Mike?

- held onto the rings until the ceremony
- pinned boutonnières on the lapels of all bridal party members
- distributed payment for the musicians at the ceremony
- provided a forgetful bridesmaid with her bouquet at photo shoot
- photocopied vehicle permit for photo location for limo
- managed set-up at reception venue (decorator and serving staff)

- placed favours on all place settings

- alphabetized name cards
- set up guest book, money box, etc
- set up cake table & Groom’s cake table

- organized bridal party for main entrance

- coordinated with DJ for sound and lighting

- made sure Bride’s requested brand of wine was being served

- quickly put a halt to the sound of the speech from the next hall coming through our banquet speakers

And so on and so on……

Brides – things will happen on your wedding day that you didn’t expect or plan for. Having a Planner onsite can help these types of issues disappear quickly and effortlessly on your part. Your task for the day is to be the Bride and enjoy every moment with your husband.

The Bride’s Butler wishes Kelly & Mike all the best in their new beginning together. Thanks again for allowing us to be a part of your very special day.

Congratulations Kelly & Mike!!

I couldn't post my usual '5 day' blog post yesterday because I was executing Day of Coordination services for my client Kelly. She and her hubby Mike had a fabulous sunny day for their wedding and were surrounded by many friends and family wishing them much love and happiness.

Here's a sneak peak from their exquisite wedding.
I'll write more about their event next post.

10 Secrets to a fun Reception

10 Secrets to a fun Reception....

titles originally thought by the Knot...the other added fuss is by us.

10. Plan a Surprise - Unexpected entertainment such as dancers or a magician. Or by adding theme friendly add-ons like a cigar roller, photo booth or dove release.

9. Keep Your Guests Fuelled - As the party continues and drinks are consumed you'll want to make sure there is some late night food available. Check out our post about unique treats here.

8. Give Out Party Favours - Just like you would for a child's birthday party, give your guests something fun to play with! Party hats, crowns and tiaras, noise makers, sunglasses or even have a sparkler send-off as you leave as Mr. & Mrs.

7. Add a Lounge to your Reception - Give guests a spot to relax and kick up their heels before and during your reception. This set up is very popular for cocktail receptions and tent weddings.

6. Make sure you and your DJ have the same tastes - No one wants to hear DJ Jazzy Jeff spinning' tunes from Barney's sing-a-long, or the hokie pokie!

5. If you've hired a Band, plan their breaks - You don't want your party to be at its peak then stop because the band leader has to go pee now do you? See if the band members can take breaks in shifts allowing for songs to be played sans that member, or at least have them play up tempo filler music to keep the party going.

4. Have a Game Plan for Kids - If you have kids at your wedding be sure there are things for them to do at a separate table or even a separate room (with a chaperone), like colouring books, playdoh, puzzles and even handheld video games.

3. Keep the Toasts short - "Quality over quantity." "Short and sweet." "Less is more."
These are popular sayings for a reason people.

2. Order Good Food - Get creative.

There are tons of options now other than your standard chicken, beef or pasta. Talk with your caterer or Banquet manager and see what they can produce for you that would be different and unique. If you want to stick to the classic meat and potato - try having a baked potato bar and or a meat carving station. Be different. I dare ya!

And the #1 Secret to a fun Reception is.....

Hire A Day of Coordinator - Having a Wedding Planner on site for your wedding is one of the smartest decisions you'll make in regards to making your Reception stress free, seamless and fun!

After all, you've thought about all aspects of your wedding in fine detail including the top 9 secrets, right?

So, make sure that your wedding goes as planned and put your trust in a dedicated professional that wants you to have the day you always dreamed of.

Spring has Sprung!

It's Spring time!

There are many ways to incorporate the fresh season that's filled with new beginnings and life into your next party or event.

Think of some centrepiece ideas that are fun, vibrant and add a touch of spring to your table top.

Will you find your inspiration from nature, colours, scent, food or fabric? The options are endless!

We bet cha might like this.

Thanks to my friend Emily for showing me this neat site, http://www.localbidbuy.com/.
There are all kinds of products, restaurants, and even experiences like Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours and music lessons up for grabs on this site.

The Bridal &Wedding section of the site has wedding dresses that are normally $1000+ in the stores for only a couple hundred dollars to start. It's free to register, and the bidding is very similar to that of Ebay. Other vendors that have items available are DJ's, Jewellers, Photographers, Limos, Bakers and Salons.

If you're a Bride that wants to purchase local products and save some money, perhaps this is a route you want to take - or at least look into. Just know that with bidding, there's usually a time period you must wait  until the bidding is closed, and if you're not a patient Bride, this method may not be for you.

I encourage you to check out the site and take a look around for other items that may not particularly pertain to your actual 'wedding day' but can be incorporated in other wedding related festivities - like Stag & Doe prizes, gifts for your wedding party, and experiences or outings for your bachelorette or stag parties.

Do you think you'd keep betting on a "must have" item like Samantha Jones did from Sex in the City?  Find out by visiting the site! SOLD!

Wine Not?

If you're looking for a romantic, classy, exclusive venue for your up-coming nuptials, why not look into Ontario's Wine Country? Check out Wineries of Ontario for official information about Ontario's beloved wine regions including Niagara on the Lake, Grimsby, Prince Edward County, Toronto and Pelee Island.

Niagara on the Lake is one of my most favourite areas to visit all year round. From walking and shopping during the holidays, to experiencing a live theatrical show and picnic in the spring or summer, there is plenty of things to do and enjoy while visiting for the day, weekend or even a few days to a week.

Niagara on the Lake (NOTL) boasts many Inns as well as B&B's because it's a very popular location for romantic getaways, honeymoons and even weddings! Niagara's Finest Inns showcases some of the most exquisite Inns in the region. Having your wedding ceremony and reception at an Inn allows you to have an intimate gathering with close family and friends and yet feel like you have travelled away to a remote piece of property, but you are really only about 20 mins from Niagara Falls and an hour or so from Toronto!

If you need a bit more room for hosting your wedding, try Vintage Hotels - where you can find information on hotels like Queens Landing, Pillar & Post and Prince of Wales.

Wineries in the area that have large rooms dedicated for weddings and special events are; Hernder Estate Wine, Casablanca Winery &; Inn and Peller Estates.

No matter what you choose, having your wedding at a winery or an Inn within the beautiful region of Niagara on the Lake allow you to have a theme at your fingertips. Incorporate wine into the menu, use corks as place card holders, use grapes and vine leaves in your decor, centerpieces or cake and give an engraved or personalized wine stopper as a guest favour. There are plenty of ways to enhance the theme of your wedding with fine details.

Think you might want to look into an Inn or winery for your wedding?

I say, "wine not!"