A great way to personalize your venue is with lighting. It can completely change the mood and tone of the event. I have been loving outdoor lighting for backyard events and exposed industrial style lighting. Here is some of my favourite inspiration.
All images and their original sources can be found at Pinterest.
Happy Monday! After a busy weekend with a beautiful wedding it’s nice to sit (finally!), have a croissant and enjoy some lovely flowers. Here are some unique ways of presenting a gorgeous arrangement. An assortment of size, shape, and colour allow for depth and fun variety on the tables or around the venue.
All images and original sources can be found at Pinterest.
Alana and Shane said “I do” on July 1st, 2011, the same day that Shane’s parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Here’s a peek at the day with special thanks to Pure Souls Photography for the photos.
Vendors: Event Planning and Design – Epic Events | Event Decor – Timeless Wedding and Decor |Photography – Pure Souls | Floral Design – Petals and Stems | Venue – Morgan Creek Golf Club | Cake – Friend of the Famaily
I bet it’s been quite a whirlwind in your first year of marriage. Before you know it, it’s been 365 days since you and your husband said “I do.” He’s probably got something up his sleeve to surprise you but what are you going to do for him? Here’s a round up of some thoughtful first anniversary gifts. The traditional symbol for the first anniversary is paper and modern alternatives include clocks and gold.
From the top right:
Happy hunting!
I came across this awesome DIY the other day: home made vanilla extract as wedding favours (or, just for your pleasure!) The original post can be found at the Ruffled blog. It’s super easy and simple and only requires vanilla beans, a bottle of vodka (or rum, or another personal favourite), as well as some patience! A great item to check off of your pre-wedding to do list!
1. Slice the vanilla beans in half to allow the flavour to release.
2. Place them in the bottle of alchohol to infuse.
3. Wait… about 3 months!
Check out the original post at Ruffled for some extra tips.
Sometimes, although you may love them and they may be your best friends in the world, it gets tough to deal with the bridal party. Here are a few sticky situations and some tips on how to deal.
Do I have to ask my sister to be my maid of honour?
In most cases, the sister is asked to be the maid of honor. Unless there are special circumstances, it is advisable that she is the first choice. If you have more then one sister, if one is already married then she can be the matron of honour and the other can be the maid of honour. Ultimately, this role can be quite daunting so you need to be comfortable with who you choose to ensure that you do not add any additional concerns your already full plate. You can always ask your bridesmaid BFF to provide extra support to the person in the MOH role.
Do I have to ask my fiance’s sister to be a bridesmaid?
Your family is growing so it is best to include everyone as much as possible. Think about the great bonding experience it will provide as well as the memories you will share at family get togethers in the future.
Who pays for the bridesmaid’s dresses?
This is at the couple’s discretion. If you are comfortable providing the attire for the wedding party then by all means, it is appreciated. However, that may not be in everyone’s budget so if you are asking your wedding party to provide their own look you need to be considerate to individual situations. Do your best to select a variety of options for the ladies to wear and be sure to include items at a lower price point. It may also be considerate to recommend guidlines instead of exact items if it fits within your vision. This way, your friends will likely be able to choose something they would wear again.
What if I want to plan my bachelorette party?
Traditionally, bachelorette parties were thrown as a gift to the bride from the bridesmaids. However, it is more common for brides to plan them for herself. Being part of the bridal party is already a large responsibility so, if you plan a weekend away, you should be willing to pay your way. Your bridesmaids also already commit a lot of time to you and your event so be considerate of what you are demanding of them.
No bride wants to be a bride-zilla! Your wedding is about celebrating your love and your relationship — make sure you appreciate all the ladies that help you get to your big day.
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend — especially around wedding season. Now, for the soon-to-be brides out there, who hope to put a ring on it, I wanted to provide some information on diamonds that you can conveniently leave open on your laptop for when your boyfriend walks by.
I paid a visit to my lovely friend, Jerome, at Tiffany & Co. to get the dish on diamond basics and to try on some dream rings (5.14 ct. Legacy with graduated side stones — omgsh!)
There are four main factors to consider when purchasing a diamond: cut, clarity, colour, and carat. Each of these factors contribute to the value and overall look of the diamond.
Cut
The Tiffany round-brilliant cut has 57-58 facets. This maximizes the amount of light that is returned and therefore enhances the fire of a diamond. Certain diamond cutters may claim that more facets result in more light, but that is not always the case. Along with facets, it is important to consider the girdle, which if cut too thick will add worthless carat weight and dull the diamond, as well as a shallow or deep cut that both lead to a dull stone. The brilliance of a diamond greatly depends on the expertise of the cutter.
Clarity
Diamonds are graded on a scale that ranges from I3, which means imperfect-eye-visible inclusions, to FL, which means flawless. This scale refers to imperfections within the stone, such as clouds, pin-points, and scratches.
FL | Flawless
IF | Internally flawless – minor surface blemishes
VVS1, VVs2 | Very, very slightly included
VS1, VS2 | Very slightly included
SI1, SI2 | Slightly included
I1, I2, I3 | Imperfect-eye-visible inclusions
With my untrained eye, I was unable to notice the difference between a VS2 (very slightly included) and a VVS1 (very, very slightly included) but the differences in grading can greatly affect the price. Oh, VS1 and VS2 doesn’t necessarily mean one is better than the other, the different numbers describe the location of the imperfection and it’s impact on the overall brilliance of the stone.
Colour
Colour is often the priority in selecting a diamond. The scale starts at letter D, which is the ideal colourless stone, and continues to letter Z, which will have a yellow tone. Tiffany & Co. only carries D, E, and F, which are considered colourless, and G, H, and I stones which are considered near colourless. I also looked at an I and a D stone and couldn’t detect the difference, although, further down the scale, I’m sure it would be obvious. There are also fancy coloured diamonds, such as pink, yellow, and blue. These diamonds are valued more when there is a deep intensity of their colour.
Carat
Some girls say they will never have enough of this! I guess it all depends on personal style and preference (and budget!) I will admit that the 5-point-something carat ring I tried on was a stunning piece of art, but not my everyday kind of wear, for now at least. Maybe later, when all I do is wear McQueen gowns and Louboutin.
There are many factors in choosing the right diamond, but hopefully, some background knowledge will make it that much easier. Thanks again to Tiffany & Co. for their excellent service!
It’s not too late to add a beautiful hair piece to your wedding day look. Dramatic or simple, floral or feathered, a hair adornment can add depth and texture to your look.
1. Feather accent comb | Twigs and Honey – $85
2. Crystal, tulle, and velvet hair peice | Twigs and Honey - $245
3. Dazzle crystal hair wrap | Ban.do – $165
4. Silk flower comb | Tigerlilly – $90
5. Paramount jewel hairband | Ban.do – $350
6. Natalia | Jennifer Behr – $675
7. Veronica | Jennifer Behr - $825
I’ll be honest and admit that hey, if there’s an excuse to buy another pretty dress, I’m all over it. Many brides are indulging in a second look for their reception. It’s a great option to have a reception dress because it can highlight another aspect of the bride and the wedding. After a formal ceremony, these dresses can be more casual, playful, comfortable, and they don’t even have to be white! If your friends can really break it down on the dance floor, it may help you keep up.
1. Cotton and silk blend radzmir dress | Lavin – $4875
2. Bow-back cotton and silk blend strapless dress | Lavin – $4955
3. Embellished silk strapless dress | Valentino – $11,000
4. Faux wrap drape dress | Alice + Olivia – $303.29
5. Filigree cupcake dress | BHLDN – $1000
6. One shoulder rosette dress | BCBG Max Azria - $262.58
With a touch of pink, rose gold looks great on many skin tones. This metal, paired with precious gems makes for a unique and beautiful engagement ring.
1. Rapture Ring | St. Kilda – $6254
2. Pink Amethyst Diamond Ring | Greenwich Collection – $885
3. Champagne Peach Sapphire and Rose Gold | Eldel Precious – $750
4. White Sapphire and Rose Gold | Garnet Girl Designs – $980
5. Gold Stack Rings | Adzia – $585
6. Diamonds and Rose Gold | KK Jewelry – $3000
