Launch Of Going Bridezilla?!?

I'm so excited to launch my new membership program for brides called "Going Bridezilla?". I get calls and emails all of the time from frustrated brides who have so many questions and worries regarding planning their wedding. However unless they are a client of mine, unfortunately I'm not able to help them. But I came up with a way to give you a wedding planner at an affordable rate. The "Going Bridezilla?" Membership Program is only $29 per month and you will receive a one hour monthly call on advice from a wedding planner in regards to common wedding planning blunders. And a big BONUS I offer a 30 minute question and answer period, where you can submit your questions and I will respond to them fully. This way every bride gets to benefit. If you're interested in signing up for our first FREE call on "5 Wedding Disasters You Can Plan To Avoid" click here.

Sunshine & Navy- Yacht Club Chic

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I love the combination of Navy & Yellow and when I pictured them together I saw them oceanside. I took the nautical theme of navy & white and added a bit of "sunshine" for a pop of colour. This wedding would be great if you and your hunny love sailing :).

I went with the chic look of yellow calla lillies for bouquets as well as large yellow or even white callas as centrepieces with navy striped table linen. Bring the outdoor folding chairs in a natural wood or white colour inside the yacht club or a tent.

Enjoy the canvas (opens to music may want to turn down sound)

Latest inspiration board... The Perfect Compromise- Fuschia & Navy

For the bride that loves pink and the groom who doesn't... fuschia and navy is a really nice way to balance things out and compromise. You may be thinking right now... "but I love love love pink and his oppinion doesn't matter"... No matter how crazy their little ideas can sometimes be, I always try and incorporate the groom's input into my weddings. Why? Because its his wedding too, they try ladies, they try and they do care. You will be married to this person for a long time... it will be a lifetime of compromising. Why not start now? Walking into an overdone pink on pink wedding is kind of traditionally boring. Why not make it fun and reflect your personalities perhaps his favourite colour is blue. Add the blue like a navy blue and make that pink pop and keep it so its not over done. It looks so beautiful, modern and chic, also it adds the two of you into the theme of your wedding.


Check out the full effect for this canvas (turn down your volume if viewing from the office)

For sources visit the link

Personalized chairs

Photos from http://www.chameleonchairs.com/

Chameleon chairs are gorgeous and one of the hottest trends in the event & wedding design industry. However they are not easily accessible in Canada or to the average bride as they cost $14 and up USD plus shipping from the states. To embrace this trend you should invest your wedding decor budget, and spend a bit on personalizing your reception chairs.

How? First invest in a chair cover like a plain scuba or a satin wrap or if its in the budget upgrade your regular banquet hall chairs to a chiavari chair about $10 a chair. I would definitely add a chair sash to spice it up and add a splash of colour. But please think outside the box and avoid the traditional bow... why? Because its bowring. Add some excited with a different style of tie like off to the side or a different type of knot, your decorator should be able to help you with this. Why not add a flower to the chair, a chair jacket, a brooch, or something else that represents your theme like a shell, fall leaves or an apple whatever your wedding theme is.

Here are some examples of what I'm talking about...

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Personalize Your Engagement Photos

Don't choose a random place for your engagement photos and try to go outdoors if you can as the lighting is much better and it looks better than a studio.

Choose a location with lots of special meaning to the two of you for example...

-Where you met? eg. At a restaurant, at the beach
-Where you got engaged? eg. at Ivor Wynne Stadium at a TiCats Game
-Something you like to do together? eg. Hiking on the bruce trail, golfing
-Somewhere you like to go together? eg. Hess Village, RBG

There's lots of great ideas for your engagement photos so get creative and have some fun. There are lots of amazing photographers out there that will make you two 'pop' from any scene.

How I became a Wedding Designer RN

I had someone ask me via facebook why I had a nursing background but I do wedding design. And I thought this would be a great opportunity to share this with my loyal blog readers.

I have always enjoyed planning and decorating social parties like birthdays, baby showers etc. and events at my parents pub in Hess Village which is called 'Side Bar'. It was just something that I enjoyed doing I never once considered it to be a career or anything, it was just a hobby.

So in 2004 I graduated from the Nursing program and immediately got a job in the hospital. I liked nursing I really did, I liked the skills and knowledge involved, I loved helping patients that was the best part was the people I've met.

It was only after planning my own wedding and then having my daughter where things started to change. I loved planning my wedding, I had such a great time doing it. I used to sketch and sketch out what the decor would look like, what my invitations, cake, centrepieces were going to look like. It was so much fun!

After I had my daughter my mindset changed. I started thinking about what I want her to have in life...I used to sing! And I still love singing! But for some reason I let silly people make me feel bad about doing what I loved, who I realize now were just insecure themselves, bully me out of a dream. Well I knew for my daughter's sake I didn't want her to ever feel that way. I think we all have something we were meant to do, and its very possible to be doing that 'thing' whatever it is. Well what a phony was I. I can't tell my daughter to go after and do the things she enjoys doing... but then not do that myself. So my wheels started spinning.

I began helping friends and family with their weddings, I took courses, helped out other wedding planners on their weddings while I was nursing. Then this past Oct I quit. I am now making a living off of doing what I love... and you know what... I'm so happy! I'm passionate about making my clients weddings creative, one of a kind, beautiful and to their vision. I love networking and seeing what other professionals are doing. I love seeing whats latest and greatest in weddings. I love travelling to conferences. I love meeting new clients and hearing all about their dream wedding. I just can't say 'LOVE' enough.

I still feel bad about leaving the profession during a shortage, but I need to remember a) that shortage is never going away and b) everyone is responsible for their own health and one less nurse in the system isn't going to change it. But you know its funny because I know several people who are in another profession and are dreaming about becoming a nurse. And I tell them to go after it. You need to do what you love. We only live once, why be miserable and afraid to take the next step to doing what you love? We all deserve to be happy and be the person we are meant to be.

Transform your fairytale wedding into "The Princess and the Frog"

I did this canvas a few months ago as I knew disney's new feature "Princess and the Frog" would be coming out in theaters. I know many lovely brides want to have that fairytale wedding but I find Cinderella theme is the most done and I'm trying to think outside of the box a bit here.


Here's the canvas...

Personalize it?: The story is about a princess who takes a chance on a frog that if she kisses him he'll turn into a handsome prince. When you first met your fiance were you like "never in a million years bud" lol. But somehow he grew on you. Well this is the fairytale theme for you.

Choosing a Venue Location: If you're getting married in Hamilton I'd have this wedding either at Dundurn Castle or near a pond, or perhaps even Cootes Paradise.

Theme Colours: I'd go with pink & green of course

I hope this post gives you some inspiration and remember to always personalize YOUR wedding and "think outside the box".

Back from the 2009 Professional Wedding Planners Conference

Part of my job as a professional wedding planner and designer is to truly invest in my knowledge and experience by attending industry conferences and learning from the best of the best so I can be at my very best for my clients (and doing it in a warm climate at a 6 star resort makes it that much harder..lol). Well I'm so glad I was apart of the conference as I was able to learning tips from celebrity event designers like Sasha Souza and Joanne Brown, I got to see what couture Canadian designers such as Ciara & Simon Daykin of Firefly Occasions were up to, as well as learn from the experience of Andy Ebon and Danielle Andrews Sunkel and Tracey Manailescu of WPIC. It was an excellent conference, I had a great time, learned a lot, got my Sandals certification (already planning my next Sandals vacation) but most of all I'm glad to be able to take that experience and knowledge and be the best wedding designer I can be for my clients. And if you are looking at having a destination wedding please contact me as we will be launching our destination wedding planning & design services for Jan 2010. Here are some pics enjoy! More great photos available on my facebook page.