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Vera Wang’s Swoon-Worthy 2012 Collection

May 10, 2011

Ahh, Vera. Where do I even begin? Vera Wang is one of the most coveted designers of bride’s-to-be all over the world. Her gowns are renowned for their elegance and dramatic simplicity, making them the perfect choice for a mountain wedding in Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise. In her latest collection, Vera takes inspiration from the ballerinas of Degas’ art for an ultra-romantic collection using texture and hues of airy pastels and sophisticated neutrals. Swoon.

I am also loving Vera’s modern take on the birdcage veil…but I’ll save that for another blog post!

Credit: Vera Wang Photography: Kevin Sturman

Credit: Vera Wang Source: Wedding Chicks

Credit: Vera Wang Photography: Kevin Sturman

Credit: Vera Wang Source: Wedding Chicks

Credit: Vera Wang Photography: Kevin Sturman

Credit: Vera Wang Source: Wedding Chicks

If you have fallen in love with a Vera and are looking for the perfect Calgary, Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise Wedding Planner to pull together a show stopping, jaw dropping event design worthy of your sensational gown, contact us now to book your complimentary initial consultation.

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Kate Middleton’s Wedding Gown: Timeless Elegance

April 29, 2011

By now I’m sure you’ve all caught a glimpse of the stunning Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen wedding gown worn by Kate Middleton as she wed her prince charming, William of Wales. Although the dress was not what I was expecting, it was perfect! It is a simple, elegant, and timeless beauty of a gown, much like Kate herself.

Immediately comparisons were drawn between Kate’s wedding gown and that of Grace Kelly, another classic beauty who wed her own prince charming, Rainer of Monaco back in 1956. Not only are their wedding dresses remarkably similar, so are their bridal bouquets. I love that Kate opted for a wedding gown that is beautiful and elegant and that will no doubt stand the test of time.

In addition to the similarities between Kate and Gracy Kelly’s wedding gown, Kate’s dress also reminded me of a design by one of my favourite wedding gown designers, Monique Lhuillier, from 2007. I wonder how Calgary and Banff brides will soon be seeking a similar lace enhanced wedding gown for their special day?

Photo: People Photographer: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Photo: People Photographer: Martin Meissner/AP

Source: Manolo Beauty

Source: Fashion Era Source: Bridalwave Monique Lhuillier

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Sensational Wedding Ceremony: Love Letter Exchange

March 9, 2011

Love Letter Locket: Etsy

I am so excited to share a fabulous wedding ceremony idea that is oh-so-romantic. I have to tell you that when one of our recent couples decided to participate in the exchange of love letters during their February 2011 Calgary wedding ceremony it left Jenn and I, as well as their guests, in awe. So for those wondering how to incorporate this fabulous ceremony into their wedding day here are the key points.

Prior to the wedding day you and your sweetie will each take some quite alone time and reflect on why you love the other person and want to commit your life in marriage to him or her. It’s a great opportunity to share by way of the written word all of the qualities that you admire in the other, the shared moments that you treasure, what you are most looking forward to in the future, and why you have chosen them to be your life partner. When you have each finished writing your love letters, you will seal them in separate envelopes. These two envelopes will then be placed into a keepsake box of your choosing along with a lovely bottle of wine and given to your marriage commisioner prior to your wedding day.

When your big day rolls around, your marriage commissioner will take a few moments during the ceremony to explain to your guests that you have written love letters to one another. At this point you will exchange your love letters (still sealed in their envelopes) and place them into your keepsake box. Your marriage commissioner will explain that also contained in the box is a very special bottle of wine. The letters, and bottle of wine, will be opened by the two of you at a pre-determined milestone in your relationship, at which point you will each read the letter written for you by your sweetheart and share in the lovely bottle of wine.

Here’s to romance!

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Jodie & Jordan: Calgary Zoo Wedding

November 29, 2010

I am so excited to FINALLY share Jodie and Jordan’s fabulous, fun, and funky wedding that took place this summer at the Calgary Zoo. I had the privilege of working with Jodie and Jordan for 18 months to design and plan their monogram themed, green and brown wedding and I absolutely love how everything came together. These two are so in love that you can’t help but smile every time you are in the same room with them. I had an absolute blast throughout the entire process and loved every minute of their amazing wedding day. It’s couples like this that make me feel so lucky to do the amazing job that I do. A special thanks to TLAW Photography and Lifeseven Photography for capturing their day with perfection. I can’t wait to see the film that IMAGO captured of their day.

The double J monogram was a theme throughout the wedding and was incorporated onto their invitations, ceremony programs, water bottles, GOBO on the dance floor, wedding favours, and signage throughout the reception. The green uplighting, available through Inspired Occasions, dazzled their guests. As a unique touch, each table was assigned a different name or memorable locations in and around their hometown. For the back of the table cards I came up with the idea of Jodie and Jordan answering unique questions about their lives, interested, passions, hobbies, etc. We also incorporated pictures from their engagement session which added even more of a fun touch to the “he said” “she said” answers. They even kept their answers a secret from each other so that they would be as surprised as their guests. This was definitely one of my favourite unique wedding details on their special day.

I loved the “guest book” which was a tree where guests could “leaf” their thumb prints and sign their names. It went perfectly with our theme and added yet another unexpected touch. To play up their colours as well as the rustic elements in the Safari Lodge, I created centerpieces using curly willow, granny smith apples, and mini cymbidium orchids. These added instant impact when guests entered the reception room. I also incorporated apples along the front of the head table with candles interspersed in between. Their choreographed first dance upon entering the reception had everyone cheering and let their guests know they were in for a very fun celebration.

Congratulations Jodie and Jordan!

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Jacquie & Ian: Married in Banff

September 21, 2010

I’m so excited to share with you the details of Jacquie and Ian’s beautiful Banff wedding that took place earlier this summer. We worked with a pallet of chocolate brown, green, and deep red. The red really made the green and brown pop and provided the perfect accent to play up the colours in their venue. Jaquie and Ian wanted a wedding in the mountains as most guests would be traveling to attend and they wanted them to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Banff. The love between these two filled the air all around and it was so great to see the love and support of everyone in attendance. I had such a great time working with these two for close to a year to design and plan their warm and rustic wedding so without further ado, here are the images captured with style by TLAW Photography.

The bride’s deep red and citrus green bouquet. It looked beautiful against her blush coloured gown. I created the reception centerpieces using mini green cymbidium orchids wired onto curly willow. As luck would have it, there were plenty of orchids left over so my team and I saved some stems to be used at the ceremony (tied onto the aisle chairs) and snipped the rest for a surprise orchid toss during the couple’s recessional!

The groom’s rustic tie incorporated some curly willow. I love how this turned out!

We alternated the red rose pomanders with stems of left over cymbidium orchids. The contrast of green and red provided a vibrant punch of colour for the beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Tunnel Mountain, otherwise known as “the Meadow.”

Tunnel Mountain is a breathtaking setting for a wedding ceremony.

Here the newlyweds are enjoying the surprise orchid toss that my staff and I concocted. How luxe!

Stealing a kiss in the getaway car before heading off to capture some stunning images of the bride and groom.

This pallet of chocolate brown, green, and deep red was perfect for the Juniper Hotels’ Bistro where the reception was held. The tall centerpieces my team and I created added the perfect rustic, yet modern and elegant touch that the couple desired. The height really created drama in the room and drew guests eyes upwards where they were able to appreciate the stunning views outside the wall of windows facing the mountains.

I also created some low green centerpieces for one long guest table using spider and button mums. I re-purposed the red rose pomanders from the ceremony and placed them atop low square vases with green cymbidium orchids in the bottom. I flanked the ends of the head table with these and placed the remainder in the bar lounge area. They looked great at the reception!

We brought in a touch of the deep red with the table numbers, which played up the leaf pattern in the sheer chocolate overlays used on all of the guest tables.

I always like to think of unique ideas for the backs of the table numbers to give guests something interesting to look at and read. For Jacquie and Ian’s wedding, we put bios of the wedding party on the back. This was a great way for guests to get to know these guests of honour and why they are such treasured people in Jacquie and Ian’s lives.

The cake was covered in green cymbidium orchids with deep red throats and was placed atop a tree trunk cake plate. It was the perfect compliment to the overall wedding design and mighty delicious too. We had a custom lime flavour created for Jacquie and Ian’s wedding that was green in colour and also offered a raspberry ripple option that played up the red colour. Both were summery and fresh and were a treat to the eyes when sliced.

During the cocktail hour guests enjoyed a signature red martini as well as a non-alcoholic ginger limeade that was green in colour.

Here are the ceremony pomanders at work decorating the cocktail space.

Tray passed hors d’oeuvres were enjoyed by guests during the cocktail hour and let them know that they were in for a delicious meal.

In order to get the bride and groom to kiss, guests had to stand up and demonstrate how they wanted Jacquie and Ian to kiss. Needless to say this was very entertaining and led to some passionate kissing.

After dinner Jacquie and Ian got the party going by performing a choreographed first dance as well as a fun a flirty choreographed second dance with their wedding party which resulted in guests getting up and joining in. The dance floor was packed for the remainder of the night. Just as night was falling, Jacquie and Ian snuck outside with their photographer for some stunning twilight photos.

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Romantic & Rustic Fall Wedding

September 9, 2010

Yesterday I celebrated my 3 year wedding anniversary. In celebration of the season (and my recent anniversary) I thought I would share my favourite fall wedding that I have designed and planned to date. Two years ago on my anniversary I was contacted by Kristin, the bride, to plan her fall wedding at the River Cafe. When I first read her email I have to admit I got goose bumps. She was contacting me on my wedding anniversary, interested in having me design and plan her wedding for the following year at the River Cafe. I first discovered the River Cafe just over 6 years ago when I went on my first date with my now husband. If we had chosen to get married in Calgary, the River Cafe would have been a top contender for a venue no doubt. I jumped at the chance to work with this amazing couple and now every time I have the delight of dining at the River Cafe, I not only remember my first date with TLAW fondly, but I also remember Kristin and Shelby’s amazing, love filled celebration.

The bride and groom wanted a rustic fall wedding infused with romance and some vintage touches incorporating yellow, orange, purple and brown. I loved designing with this colour palate and adored every minute working with this amazing couple. I’ll share some of my tips below for creating a cohesive design and making your dollars stretch using this fabulous wedding as an example! Thanks to Kristi Sneddon for the amazing photos you see below.

For the ceremony, the bride and groom wanted to display some of their engagement photos. I designed a table that incorporated a rustic centerpiece, displayed in a tree stump, and surrounded the photos with moss, amaranths, rocks and candles. The centerpiece, candles, rocks and greenery did double duty as they were also used later at the reception.

I loved, loved, loved Kristin’s bouquet. To incorporate a unique and rustic element, we had the florist wrap the stem with some bark wire. The results speak for themselves.

One of my tips for making your bridal bucks stretch is to ask yourself how you can make the most use of the items you are ordering. This is especially important in terms of items for the ceremony since this is a relatively short period of the wedding day. I designed pew markers that could also be used as centerpieces at the reception.

If you are wanting special transportation for you and your new hubby, such as this vintage 1955 Rolls Royce, make sure you take advantage of it and snap some great photos with your photographer that showcase the car as well as the couple.

The River Cafe is the ideal venue for an intimate rustic wedding. If you are wanting a Calgary wedding but want the feeling of being surrounded by nature, this is one venue worth checking out. The food is divine, the service is impeccable, and the venue’s natural decor is so fantastic that you don’t need much to add your own touch and make it truly memorable for your guests.

Custom twig monograms are an easy DIY project (some metal clothes hangers, twigs, and raffia) and can add another element to the overall design.

This gorgeous tall arrangement of curly willow, dahlias, orchids, gerberas, lilies, and amaranths was a show stopper at both the ceremony (as 2 focal point arrangements framing the couple) as well as the reception.

Here is another item I designed to do double duty. Instead of folded tent cards directing guests to their tables, I played up the rustic theme and hung the cards from manzanita branches, placed in vases of rocks. There was a sign directing guests to find their seating assignment on the tree and then write their love and good wishes for the couple of the back of their name cards. This created a unique focal point in the room and also doubled as a “guest book.”

At the guest tables, a rock was placed on each napkin to indicate the guest seat. The rocks fit perfectly with the theme and are a great, inexpensive alternative to a paper place card.

Here you can see the “pew markers” being used as centerpieces. They were perfect for the design at both the church and the reception at the River Cafe. I sourced the buckets at the dollar store, which is another great tip. Look for your supplies in unexpected places as well. These buckets were baby blue with a bunch of butterflies painted all over them when purchased. A little brown spray paint later and they were both perfect and affordable.

The bride wanted lots of candles used at the reception. We lined all the window sills with votives and filled the fireplace with pillar candles for a soft romantic glow. For the tables, I wanted to do something a little different so we created these twig votives which were another easy DIY project. The twigs were cut to length and then affixed to the votives using raffia. They added another custom rustic element to the dining tables. We opted to skip using table cloths (and as such skipped the extra charge) as the natural wooden table tops were the perfect compliment to the rustic, natural theme.

Instead of paper table numbers and metal stands, I had wooden table numbers custom made that incorporated the leave motif that was used on the couple’s invitations, programs, and other paper products featured at the wedding.

Some of the “pew markers” were also used to decorate the head table, along with some amaranths for added texture.

Here you can see the centerpiece in the tree stump that I mentioned having been used at the ceremony on the table featuring engagement pictures. At the reception I placed it on the bar where it tied in beautifully with the other rustic elements present in the room.

Here the leaf motif was incorporated into custom water bottles that were handed out to the live band and given to the wedding party during their photo shoot. Just one example of the many special touches Inspired Occasions clients are treated to on their wedding day.

Guests were greeted upon arrival with a delicious signature cocktail that tied in with the colour theme. These were definitely a hit with all in attendance.

Guests were also appreciative of the tray passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour.

A live band set the perfect tone for this intimate affair. Classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra were played, along with some more contemporary selections. The live music was divine during cocktail hour and dinner and had the guests packing the dance floor into the wee hours.

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Jennie & Shane – Lake Louise Wedding

July 20, 2010

I am so excited to share Jennie and Shane’s beautiful Chateau Lake Louise wedding that happened this past weekend. I spent close to a year working with Jennie and Shane to design and plan their spectacular wedding day and I must admit that I loved every minute of it! I was first contacted by Jennie while she was finishing her PhD in the USA and due to scheduling she wasn’t able to attend the initial consultation. We emailed back and forth and I could tell that she was someone I would love to work with. Luckily I had the opportunity to meet with Shane while Jennie was still in the USA finishing up her studies. I was so excited after this initial meeting about the possibility of planning and designing his and Jennie’s wedding at the Chateau Lake Louise.

When Jennie returned to Calgary I had the opportunity to meet with her and I we totally clicked! Anyone who knows Jennie and Shane knows that they are two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. These two are clearly very much in love and their excitement about getting married after 12 years of dating was contagious. I knew that they were interviewing several Calgary wedding planners and designers and so I had my fingers crossed that the great connection I felt was reciprocated. I was over the moon excited when I learned that they had chosen me as their wedding designer and wedding planner out of the several that they had met with and interviewed.

Jennie and Shane were married on July 17, 2010. She was the picture of bridal elegance in her Vera Wang gown and he looked dapper in his chocolate brown suit, complete with coral tie. I remember going to the bridal salons with Jennie as she tried on the top contenders. When she walked out in her Vera her face absolutely glowed and it was obvious that this was her dress! She adorned her gown with a sparkly broach which took this already gorgeous dress to a whole new level. It was sheer perfection.

When their photographer, Wei, of Photobolic asked me to describe their wedding design I told him it would be beautiful and elegant with a touch of whimsy and a dash of rustic. Regardless of how you choose to describe it, Jennie and Shane’s wedding was a day filled with love and laughter and was the perfect celebration to honour a couple so happy and in love you can’t help but be filled with the warm fuzzies just being around them!

The day before the wedding was grey and rainy in Lake Louise and I have to admit I was starting to feel a little nervous about what mother nature had in store but the day of their nuptials was sunny and blue skies from dawn till tusk and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

I loved the subtle pink hue of Jennie’s dress and the soft, flowy layers; perfect for a mountain wedding.

I love this image of Shane and his parents. It really shows how happy EVERYONE was that the big day was finally here.

Such a spectacular setting for a wedding.

The entire wedding party was relaxed throughout the day and had a great time.

Jennie was the calmest bride I have ever met. Nothing mattered except getting married to her best friend and enjoying the day she had waited so long for.

She was stunning!

I had so much fun designing Jennie and Shane’s Chateau Lake Louise wedding. The colour scheme of green, brown and coral was a delight and we were all so excited to see the lollipop seating card boxes come to life. They were amazing!

The ballroom was gorgeous and the guests raved about all of the details that came together to create Jennie and Shane’s signature event. The custom coral lighting added incredible warmth and elegance and was the perfect compliment to the overall design. We alternated the stunning floral centerpieces between high and low to add visual interest and the guests loved the orchid we carefully placed on each napkin. The details definitely dazzled, the couple was thrilled, and their guests kept commenting about how this wedding was the best they had ever attended…this is exactly what an Inspired Occasions wedding is all about!

Check out their custom M&M’s. Not only did they have their names, their wedding date, and “I DO” printed on them, they also had their picture!!!

We incorporated the design from all of their stationery products onto the cake topper. It tied everything together perfectly!

The reception was one big party and everyone had a blast!

Congratulations Jennie and Shane!

Brittany & Adam: The Wedding

February 10, 2010

I am so excited to share Brittany and Adam’s spectacular winter wedding with you. I had so much fun planning this wedding in just 8 short weeks. Brittany and Adam are a fun, young couple but with school, exams, shopping for a new home, etc. they didn’t have much time to plan their wedding. As a result, I had the opportunity to work closely with the mother-of-the-bride to create a one-of-a-kind celebration that would be totally unique and a true reflection of Adam and Brittany’s fun personalities.

The ceremony took place at the stunning LDS temple in Cardston, Alberta on December 29th. It was a chilly day but the time spent outside in the frigid weather was well worth it as you can see from the stunning photos captured by the immensely talented Maria Lang.

The reception was help the next day in one of the local Calgary LDS church gymnasiums. Trust me when I say that when we were done with the decor, it looked nothing like a gymnasium! Drawing inspiration from Brittany and Adam’s youthful and fun personalities, their colour scheme of light blue, navy blue and silver as well as the winter season, we created a hip young lounge atmosphere that was beyond cool!

The reception was help the following day in one of the local Calgary LDS church gymnasiums. Trust me when I say that when we were done with the decor, it looked nothing like a gymnasium! Drawing inspiration from Brittany and Adam’s youthful and fun personalities, their colour scheme of light blue, navy blue, and silver, we created a hip young lounge atmosphere that was beyond cool!

To create the stunning transformation, we draped all of the walls in 14 ft. tall soft white fabric and then added uplighting along the entire perimeter that gradually shifted from white to light blue to dark blue. IT WAS STUNNING! In addition, we added a very cool patterned light that gently moved across the ceiling and floor. We brought in modern white leather couches, chairs and ottomans for the center of the room to create a space for guests to hang out and relax. We also set up cool cocktail tables draped in luxurious navy blue linens and 6 seater tables draped in light blue linens and overlays, flanked with uber stylish silver chiavari chairs. Fresh florals of white and green, in square vases, added a touch of sophistication while complimenting our modern theme. The bride’s favourite flower, white amaryllis, were stunning placed at the entrance and exit and were arranged in tall vases filled with clear gel that gave an icy impression perfect for this winter wedding.

Guests dined on delicious bite size delights and enjoyed the hot chocolate station we set up complete with custom cups and toppings that included chocolate shavings, candy cane crumbles, marshmallows, caramel sauce, and more. Live piano music floated through the air and the celebration was nothing short of amazing! Thanks again Maria for capturing all the details of Brittany and Adam’s amazing day so perfectly.

Congratulations Brittany and Adam!

Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget?

February 27, 2009

If you dream of dripping in jewels on your wedding day, and I mean real jewels including diamonds and pearls, your dream can be a reality! You no longer need to be rolling in the dough to sport the latest high end designer jewels. Check out Adorn Brides to find your favourite wedding jewelry styles featuring real gems at affordable prices. How can this be you ask? Adorn Brides offers rentals of exquisite high end jewelry at a fraction of the cost to purchase. Now every woman can truly afford to feel like a princess on her wedding day.

Don’t these brides look stunning? You would never guess their jewelry was rented.

Photos: Adorn Brides

Bridal Beauty

February 12, 2009

There are very few times in a woman’s life when she will feel as beautiful as she does on her wedding day. In order for your full beauty to shine you need to feel comfortable and confident in your photographer’s ability to capture you at your most radiant. Take a look at these stunning images captured by Calgary wedding photographer Rafal Wegiel.
I love everything about this first image. The beauty, the history, the stillness, the power.

I am a huge fan of day after wedding shoots (trash the dress as they are known in some circles) where you can really rock your wedding dress and do things you might not otherwise. It always makes for memorable photos and lots of fun!

All Photos: RW Photo