The Best Bachelor(ette)



Fun times at Lake Tahoe

As the economy begins to make a rebound, weddings and all things related have had a major kick start again. People are beginning to splurge on their weddings. The spending spans much further than solely on the wedding and encompasses lots of pre-wedding parties and getaways. Brides and grooms are beginning to take their bachelor and bachelorette parties to another level and taking off to exotic & exciting locations to celebrate their last days of being single. Okay, so Vegas isn't exotic. But as you walk down the strip, it can't be denied that you feel like you're in a different universe, completely outside of what is considered the daily norm. Groups of men and women are traveling to places like Vegas, New York, Lake Tahoe, Toronto and Jamaica for a last "hoorah." Sometimes this last “hoorah” could mean a getaway full of late night partying, a weekend full of spas and relaxation or and adventure weekend complete with zip lining and white water rafting. The bachelor(ette) party is the last chance to be an independent person, so in a sense, there is no better place to be than in Cancun with your best friends, celebrating what has passed and what is to come.

It seems the trend began with the movie The Hangover. The complete reversal of what was acceptable created a great comedy. It also inspired brides and grooms to take weekend trips with their best friends. The trend has now expanded to week vacations, complete with some real rest and relaxation before the big day. A long vacation also provides time for some quality time with your closest friends.

With incredible deals almost daily out of Detroit or Windsor, it is hard to deny a trip with your best girl or guy friends. Websites such as Goligers Travel Plus, Marlin Travel, and Valente Travel provide services for you to book vacations and be your own travel agent. Each of them has deals to many destinations and surely one that will be the perfect fit for your group. Take the party plunge and make sure to ease the stress of planning your wedding by getting the guys/girls together and letting loose for a few days with a unique bachelor party that you'll never forget.

www.totalexperiences.com

www.totalexperiences.com





A Few of My Favorite Things-Special Items for Your Special Day

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I love the fact that this region has so many talented designers, decorators, artists and unique locations. These are all elements that couples can tap into when they want to put their signature on their Essex County wedding. Adding something special to your wedding day can be simply accomplished by adding a few of my favorite things!!

One of this area's talented jewellery designers Mimi of Mimi's Creations can customize distinctive accessory pieces commissioned just for you and your wedding party. Her approach is to be inspired by the very uniqueness of nature as nature does not repeat herself. The diversity of each selected component within her jewellery designs specifically made for your wedding day will celebrate the very distinct essence of each special woman, each bride, each bride's maid and each mother of the bride/groom that wears her designs. A simple dress can be turned into a work of art with Mimi's fabulous pieces and her jewellery will be relished by those you give it to for years after your wedding day.

Original Design by Mimi's Creations


L'atelier Du Chocolat a truly divine chocolate boutique located in downtown Windsor can custom make your chocolate edible centerpiece. This creative approach to edible artwork means that a stunning chocolate design can not only serve as your extraordinary center piece but can also be nibbled away by your guests when their late night munchie cravings begin.

Chocolate Center Piece by L'atelier Du Chocolat

Choosing unexpected wedding florals is a beautiful way to customize your wedding decor. Using unpredictable floral choices like artichokes, amethyst coloured cala lillies and wild grasses can create a combination of florals not seen before. Don't be afraid to choose striking colour combinations of non traditional wedding florals to put your own personal stamp on your bouquets and make them a creation that is unique to your wedding.

I & F Designs


Couples are searching for venues that are non traditional and diverse as weddings have become more intimate over the last few years. Outdoor weddings have become standard fair during the pleasant months of the year in Southern Ontario and finding a vineyard, park, backyard or tourist attraction to host your wedding is certainly a trend that only seems to be gaining strength.

A very special new addition to this region's winery locations is Cooper's Hawk Vineyards which opened this past summer in the Harrow area. This destination winery has a picturesque setting with its wide open vista of vines on a gentle slope. The addition of ponds to the property enhance wildlife habit and is just part of the "green" approach being taken by Cooper's Hawk Vineyards. The indoor building can host a small wedding of up to 70 guests and is also the perfect location for wedding showers, engagement parties and rehearsal dinners.

Pond location at Cooper's Hawk Vineyard

Outdoor venues often mean that couples will need specialty rentals and that is where a long established company like Festival Tent & Party Rentals can be invaluable. Their full smorgasbord of china, utensil, glassware, linen rentals and specialty items make for one stop shopping when you are taking your wedding out of a non traditional setting.

Rentals by Festival Tent & Party Rentals

For those couples looking for a very new setting to take their photos at Country Scape Photographic Backgrounds offers the picture perfect flavour of the great Essex County countryside. This farm setting complete with a barn, railroad tracks, corn fields and old antique car and tractors on site makes for the perfect photo op for those who adore the wealth of our Essex County region. (McCarthy Proprietors-519-737-6843)

However you choose to make your wedding day special by putting your own signature touch on the event keep it simple and let it reflect who you are. Your special day will be special in every way.

Your Wedding Beat

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Music is an important part of every wedding ceremony but it is often something that couples decide to plan last minute. They say that "music is the window of the soul" and a song can often trigger memories from years past for many years into the future. Making the correct music choices for your wedding day should be a top priority if you want to touch your guests and put your own personal imprint on your wedding.

With the trend of ceremonies moving out of the church and to more non-traditional settings like beaches, wineries, art galleries and backyards the variety of music played at the ceremony is no longer restricted by rules and traditions. If your wedding is in a church setting your pastor may require only music from a specific song list to be played at the ceremony. It is important to meet with your priest or officiant before selecting your live ceremony music to discuss how many songs will be needed and when these songs will occur during the ceremony.

As your ceremony ends and your wedding party starts to travel to take pictures or to head to your reception have an iPod or a CD burned with some of your favorite party songs to pump up in the limousine. This special thought will get your party started and your wedding party will be reminded of their limousine ride around town with you far into the future.

The reception offers two opportunties for music. Many couples are now choosing to have a live musician or their D.J. play dinner music beginning as guests arrive right until speeches begin. A word of caution-make sure this music is kept strictly as background music and doesn't interfere with your guest's socializing as they talk around their tables. Your guests will be looking forward to catching up with each other and loud music can often inhibit this from happening.

INTERMEZZO-LIVE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

Once dinner has been served, words have been spoken and tears have been shed it is time to really ignite the party. By this time your guests may have been sitting for over two hours and they will be ready to move. The first dance by the bride and groom often takes place before guests are invited to get up and dance. A serious consideration is to have your first dance right before dinner. Your guests will be more attentive and less likely to be in the washroom.

Choosing the song you play for your first dance is a task which will ultimately remind you of your wedding day far into the future. Make sure you select this song together and that it has memories for both of you. Whether your first dance is before or after dinner ensure that someone announces the dance for you and captures everyone's attention so that the focus is on you!!

Getting the party started and enduring a fun atmosphere for the rest of the evening will strictly depend on the tunes played for the rest of the night. D.J. packages come with very basic service such as a live D.J. and a quality stero system to packages that range with elborate lighting and pyro technics. Normally a D.J. package will be less expensive than booking a live band. A live band can add a dramatic touch to any affair and you can never under estimate the atmosphere that live music can create. Whatever you ultimately decide upon the most important factor will be the electricity either a D.J. or a live band will create for your guests.

It is important to meet with your D.J. or your band and to go over the top priority songs you want to play during the evening. Some couples may event want to discuss a "DO NOT PLAY" list with their music expert.

Some couples are now downloading their own music on an IPOD and playing their own tunes. This may save on your budget but remember that not having a professional on site to take care of your needs or special requests is very risky business. The mood created for the majority of your wedding reception will depend on music, dancing and your guests special requests. Not having a person at your wedding to take care of these needs with a quality system can mean terrible disappointment for both you and your guests at the end of it all.

Remember that your love will be expressed through music on your wedding day. Put some thought into your musical choices so that your love creates happy memories and dancing feet.

Doggie "I Do's and Don'ts"

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So your very best friend is your dog and you and your partner have decided that you want the precious pooch to be part of your wedding party.  Having your dog, cat or pony part of your wedding ceremony is becoming a popular and admittedly catchy wedding day trend.  The question is exactly how should you include your four legged friend without causing any great disruptions or added wedding day stress.

Here are some quick pointers if you are thinking you want to include your furry friend in your wedding day plans.

Outdoor ceremonies, outdoor receptions and outdoor picture taking is the best time to include your pet.  Steer away from including pets at full indoor events unless it is just a quick walk down an aisle and out to the pooch sitters from there. 

Make sure that your dog has been taken out for a good run the morning of your event.  There is nothing more beneficial to quell bad doggie manners than an extra long walk in the park to unleash pent up over active puppy behaviour. 

If you are walking up the aisle with Rover make sure to put him on a leash.  Decorate the leash in your wedding colours and pass off your pet to the person who will be your official wedding day pet sitter as soon as you make it to your hubby to be.

                     

If you decide riding bareback into your outdoor wedding hoedown is the perfect touch to your western themed wedding some serious pre-planning should take place.  Make sure bathing your horse with extra special care and a fresh scented shampoo is a task done the day of the wedding.   Entwine your wedding day flowers and coloured ribbons thru his tail and mane for a picture perfect photo op walk down the aisle.  Horses can get jumpy when placed into unfamiliar situations so ensure your horse knows you well and his character is of a calm nature.  Have this type of wedding in an open field type setting to ensure your guests have some distance from you as you ride in on your horse. 

                                      

Finally make sure to inform your photographer well in advance that an animal will be part of your wedding day plans.  The more time your photographer has to plan this added touch the more creative pictures she will be prepared to capture for the two of you. 

Your Attendance at a Wedding Show is Requested Before You Are Wed!!

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Attending a wedding show before your Big Day can simplify the process of getting thru the months leading up to your wedding.  The Fall Wedding Event held annually in  September in Windsor is timed perfectly for couples getting married in the upcoming year.  Many couples prefer to get the majority of their wedding planning done before Christmas, the two evening Fall Wedding Event is the perfect opportunity to visit over 100 businesses to finish up the coordination of you wedding before the busy Christmas season begins.

Guests visiting booth space at the 2010 Fall Wedding Event

                                                                           

Many couples walk into a wedding show and may feel overwhelmed at first.  Every element that must be planned and organized before your wedding day is right there in front of you.  As a planner of these shows for over 25 years, I would like to make a few simple suggestions. 

1.  Prepare a short "to do" list of items you want to target at the show...for example, go to the show with a list of 3-5 things that still need to be organized-ie a DJ, a florist, a wedding cake, a musician for your ceremony and a photographer.  As you walk thru the show make sure to pick up brochures from every booth space to review when you get home.  While at the show stop and talk to every business category on your targeted "to do"list.  Try to make an appointment with one or two of the businesses that you connect with at the show on your "to do" list.

2.  Once you are in the relaxed surroundings of your home go thru the bag of materials you have collected.  At this time you can go to the show website where many businesses may have their own website linked or you can go to each businesses websites that you may be interested in individually.  This will give you a chance to do your own research in a relaxed setting and research other catogories of business that you did not target at the show but might have to be booked as your wedding approaches.

3.  Wedding shows give you the opportunity to connect with business owners.  Remember that during the months &weeks before your wedding day and on your wedding day, you will be working with these business people closely.  The suppliers you ultimately choose should have your trust and should be easy for you to get along and work with.  A wedding show gives you the opportunity to seek out the personalities behind a business that best suit your personal sense of style.  Talk to and meet these business people at the show.  I promise you, your wedding day will less stressful if you are working with people you connect with. 

4.  Make sure to fill out ballots for all the prizes offered at a wedding show...these are no strings attached giveaways and there are always a lot of prizes to be won.  You cannot win if you don't take the time to fill the prize ballots out.  To make this process easier bring sticky mailing labels to the show that include your name, phone number, address, email address and the date you are getting married.

5.  Bring along other decision makers that are helping you plan and paying for your wedding.  Parents appreciate seeing what you are spending their money on and a visual is much easier for them to appreciate than an abstract description of something. 

6.  Brides there is no easier method than a wedding show to help your groom get things done in a painless and quick fashion.  Grooms often like to be part of making the decisions of particular components of the wedding including music, food service, formal wear, insurance & future home plans and the wedding location.  By having your mate attend a wedding show the exercise of running him all over town will be eliminated.  Once you have targeted the elements he wants to be part of send him down to the Members Bar at the Caboto Club to play pool or watch some sports on TV while you take your time going thru the reminder of your "to do" list.

7.  Make sure to visit each Theme Room at The Fall Wedding Show.  The themed rooms are an exclusive customized feature of The Fall Wedding Event and these fully decorated mini reception rooms will offer you loads of special and unique ideas for your wedding.  This year's general theme for our themed rooms is "A Walk Down Memory Lane".  Come see what our featured decoraters-It's A Swanky Affair, Dream Weddings, Anything & Everything, Crystalove and Windsor Event Decor dream up for their very special themed rooms

2010 Themed Room by It's A Swanky Affair

2010 Themed Room by Crystalove

2010 Themed Room by Windsor Event Decor

2010 Themed Room by Anything & Everything

This year's Fall Wedding Event takes place Wednesday and Thursday evenings September 21st and 22nd at the Caboto Club of Windsor from 5:30-9:00 pm.  The evening hours make it simple for you to meet as a couple in a central location after work and get your planning done.  Admission is just $8 at the door and if you register online at http://www.weddingshows.com/ you will be forwarded a $2 off admission coupon.  Pre Registration is not mandatory and you can bring along as many guests to the show as you would like. 
The Fall Wedding Event is Nouveau Event Planning's "warm up wedding show" to the 25th annual Wedding Extravaganza Show (also at the Caboto Club) held annually in January at the Caboto Club.  The 25th annual show will offer many new and exciting features in 2012.

Ring it in

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There is no bigger party than New Year's Eve; for this reason an increasing number of couples are choosing this occasion to celebrate their special day. It is a night of love, romance and new beginnings: what more special way to share your New Year's kiss is there than with your new husband?


While this idyllic winter wonderland seems like a perfect occasion to have a wedding, it's important to remember that many people plan their New Year's Eve far in advance. Whether it is florists, photographers, venues, or caterers, this date gets booked quickly for parties. Everything should be booked approximately two years out. Save the date reminders should be sent out a year and a half before your big day and invitations 6 months out. Furthermore, if you have family coming from out of town and staying in a hotel, reservations should be made between a year to two years in advance, depending on the location and the hotel.

Because of the time of year, deep colours such as aubergine, red, and black are very trendy for a NYE wedding. Consider a black-tie event as people love to dress up on New Year's Eve. It's a glamorous night; as the bride, make sure you are the centre of attention. Look classic but add some sparkle and hollywood glamour to your fashionable look.

Copyright Rebecca Wood Photography

Remember to amp up the romance of the night: roses are a great flower choice. If you want to be creative accent the arrangements with feathers or flowers that you wouldn't normally see in December.

Copyright Robyn Rachel Photography

Just make sure you keep a firm budget, as many suppliers may charge premium pricing on New Year's Eve. Lock pricing in with your contracts early in the planning stage. As the big day approaches keep in mind that you will have to organize both Christmas preparations and a wedding at the same time. Getting help from a wedding coordinator can be a tool for a stress free New Year's Eve wedding. Check out some of this area's best and most experienced wedding planners:
Beautiful Weddings by Me
A Perfect Day Wedding and Event Planning

Finally remember to have fun. After all this is a double celebration!

Copyright Kristin Vining Photography

What's Your Shade?

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This summer, brides will be taking hues from the brightly coloured flowers that will be blooming at the same time as their weddings. Intense colours are popular this season as brides become more experimental and care-free. Major colour trends are aubergine, fuschia, chartreuse, mustard, and coral. Pair up complimentary colours for a perfect summer wedding.

Aubergine pairs well with white, green, and paler shades of purple. It represents nobility and timelessness. For this reason, keep your colour scheme simple. Green as an accent colour works well because it is also a colour that connotes royalty. Because aubergine is such a rich colour it is best suited for indoor weddings.

Copyright Melissa Jill Photography

Fuschia is a great colour for your summer wedding because it is fun and girly. Bridesmaids will love this colour trend. It pairs well with navy creating a nautical and preppy colour scheme. This colour combination is fun for both the bride and the groom, pairing both feminine and masculine colours to create a perfect balance.

Copyright Amorology Weddings

The connection to nature that chartreuse and olive green have make them great summer wedding colour  choices for your outdoor wedding. For bold brides, chartreuse and lemon yellow is one option for an afternoon wedding. Olive can be paired with aubergine or coral for a richer colour scheme. Have fun when pairing greens with other colours and mimic the scheme in your floral arrangements.

Copyright RedTree Photography

Mustard paired with the simplicity of black and white turn a classic colour scheme into something invigorating. For brides whose style is timeless, add a unique accent such as mustard for a very trendy option and a replacement for the traditional red.

Copyright Riverbend Studio

Coral is a vibrant colour trend for the summer. Both coral and apple red match well with tiffany blue for brides that want to have a retro-inspired wedding. Brides are embracing the fun 50s feeling of these colours for their summer weddings.

Copyright Boutwell Studio

While bold colours are popular, it is important to limit colour schemes to a maximum of two intense colours with one accent colour. Too much colour can turn a well-planned wedding into an overwhelming visual smorgasbord  for your guests. Have fun with colour but remember that simplicity is memorable and easy to photograph.