Details - Bridal Magazine, June 2021 Issue #1 by Details.BridalMagazine

DETAILS

Venue

The Cotton Factory cottonfactory.ca @cottonfactoryca

Gowns

The Fitzroy fitzroyrentals.com @fitzroyrentals

Formal Wear Make Up Application and Hair Styling Jewelry and Accessories

Photography Stationery Design Event Planner and Stylist Floral Design DJ Cake and Dessert Design Videography

Collins Formal Wear collinsformalwear.com @collins_formalwear Victoria Rendon Beauty victoriarendonbeauty.com @vr.beauty Sfara Designs @sfaradesigns JLP Studio jlpstudio.ca @jlpstudio_ Red Bicycle Paper Co redbicyclepaperco.com @redbicyclepaperco Beth Jacobs Events bethjacobsevents.com @bethjacobsevents BB Blooms Floral Design bbblooms.com @bbbloomsfloralstudio The DJ Co thedjco.ca @hellothedjco Bliss Creations bliss-creations.ca @blisscreations.kw G3 Designs g3designs.ca @g3designs905

Letter from the Editor – PG 2

From the Professionals

Custom Jewelry with Sfara Designs – PG 4-5

Styled Shoots - Inspiration

Wedding Planning Timeline Checklist – PG 6-9

With Some Furry Friends – PG 38-39

Q & A with ON Wedding Venues – PG 10 – 27

Patagonia Inspiration – PG 48-49

Q & A with Rebecca Chan – PG 28-29 Everything To Know About Stationery – PG 32-37 Sourcing Vintage Bottles – PG 40-43 Finding the Perfect Suit, Collins Clothiers – PG 46-47 Ceremony Floral Tips with BBBlooms – PG 50-51 Q & A with Florist, Floral Frenzy – PG 54-55

Garden Themed Bridal Shower Pt 1 – PG 60-61 Rainbow Love – PG 64-65 Flower Farm Love – PG 68-69 The Ethereal & The Devine – PG 78-79 Garden Themed Bridal Shower Pt 2 – PG 82-83 Rustic Fall Vibes – PG 86-87

Talking Florals with Beaux Florals – PG 58-59

Elegant and Neutral Palette – PG 92-93

Q & A with Sola Wood Flowers – PG 62-63 Q & A with Alycia, The Wedding Lawyer – PG 66-67 Q & A with Changing the Lens – PG 70-75

Elegance at Dundurn Castle – PG 100-101 Real Weddings

Appetizer Ideas, Little Mushroom Catering – PG 76-77

Leslie & Kyle – PG 30-31

Late Night Food Ideas, Cater Me Please – PG 80-81

Kim & Cici – PG 44-45

Hair & Make Up Trial Tips with VR Beauty – PG 84-85

Anita & Ravi – PG 52-53

Q & A with Wedding Panner, Kelsey Knoop – PG 88-91

Althea & Quincy – PG 56-57

Handmade Jewelry with Wild Blue Yonder – PG 94-95

Moh & Fatima – PG 96-97

Music and Covid with the DJ Co – PG 98-99 Emergency Kit Must Haves – PG 102 JUNE 2021 PUBLISHED BY Details – Bridal Magazine Details.BridalMagazine@gmail.com Details – Bridal Magazine will be published two times yearly, Summer and Winter. This is the 1st issue of the magazine www.Details-BridalMagazine.ca Lee-Anne Woods – Chief Editor and Publisher The statements, opinions and points of view expressed do not necessarily represent those of the publisher, advertiser or Details – Bridal Magazine. Photographs and content are submitted to Details – Bridal Magazine by wedding professions for the purpose of publishing online and/or in print and are use with permission. All images are provided by the vendors who submitted the article or gallery. Our best effort has been made to appropriately credit all images. Any errors or omissions are not the responsibility of Details – Bridal Magazine. Images with errors or omissions will be corrected or removed. © 2021 Details – Bridal Magazine. Contents Copyrighted. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission from Details Bridal Magazine is strictly prohibited. ISSN Pending. Printed in Canada

Congratulation on your engagement! We are so happy for you and your partner! We are absolutely thrilled that you have chosen Details Bridal Magazine to assist with your planning process. We hope you find our articles to be a helpful tool and our pages full of inspiration. Dive in and have fun! -

Editor Details.BridalMagazine@gmail.com

Photography Lauren Newman Photography www.LaurenNewmanPhotos.com @lauren.newmanphotos

Bridal Gown Fitzroy Dress Rentals www.FitzroyRentals.com @fitzroyrentals

Florist Petales De Fleurs www.PDFT.ca @pdft.ca

Venue One King West Hotel www.OneKingWest.com @onekingwest

Suit Moore’s www.MooresClothing.com @mooresclothing

Jewelry Sfara Designs @sfaradesign

Coordinator & Decorator Niesha Pierre Events www.NieshaPierre.com @neishapierreevents

Ring Designer Tsarina Gems www.TsarinaGems.com @tsarinagems

Linens Chair-man Mills www.ChairmanMills.com @chairmanmills Candelabras & Tableware The Ultimate Wedding Project www.TheUltimateWeddingProject.com @ultimatewedding Hair & Make Up Autumn Artistry Makeup & Hair www.AutumnArtistryMakeupandHair.com @autumnartistrymakeupandhair

Baker Devuyst Desserts www.DevuystDesserts.com @devuystdesserts Stationery Design Blanche Heirloom Co. www.BlancheHeirloom.co @blancheheirloom.co

Danielle Sfara of Sfara Designs You’ve found the person you want to exchange vows with and grow old with! This should be an exciting experience for you, not one that may be performed best with advil since the current pandemic lockdowns have erased much of the emotional component in the significant jewelry buying step of your life. You want the ring to be perfect, you want to give your partner the very best, you also want it to be affordable. There are some things to consider when you’re about to embark on the jewelry buying journey. The first important decision is to find the perfect jeweler; that one professional who will provide you with expert information, will make your experience a wonderful one, and will articulate your love story in their creation. Danielle Sfara is a private jeweler and Sfara Designs is her brand. Because private jewelers aren’t so highly visible or public, many people don’t know they exist. The advantage to working with a private jeweler is the relationship you build, the extended amount of time spent with you, the very customized experience, the impeccable service, the uncompromising quality, and the extremely competitive pricing because they don’t have large rent influencing the price. Once upon a time, there was a young girl who drew pictures of jewelry with Crayola and unbeknownst to her, was paving her career path. Surrounded by artists and designers throughout her childhood, Danielle acquired a great passion and appreciation for things realized from imagination versus the pre-made. And it’s with this very passion that she creates impressive pieces of jewelry. Learning from master craftsmen in the industry over 25 years ago, Danielle’s approach is simple... Get to know the people wearing your jewelry and create items that tell stories.

Connect with Sfara Designs @sfaradesigns

Danielle has gained expertise in marrying function style and form with her aptness for attention to detail, to create lasting pieces. “There is so much more to jewelry than thinking the person you’re gifting it to will hopefully like it. It’s an emotional connection, a depiction of oneself if you will. Which is the very reason I prefer to take time with my clients each step of the process from diamond selection, to ring design, to the manufacturing, to presentation. I’m a sucker for sentimental gestures, and I try to always integrate those special touches to the rings I create”. Some questions to help decide what you’ll propose or exchange I do’s with, take some thorough consideration. Do you want your engagement and wedding ring to match? Will you be wearing your engagement ring and wedding ring together or solo? Are you delicate with your jewelry? The list continues but thankfully you won’t need to worry about figuring that out because Danielle will help and you’ll be exceedingly thrilled with the results. Beit an engagement or wedding ring, or an inherited treasure you want to remodel to suit your modern style, you and Danielle will collectively work together to create that perfect articulation of emotion in jewelry form. In addition to custom jewelry, Sfara Designs carries a collection of men’s tungsten and ceramic wedding rings and accessories, as well as a collection of accessories for him and her, because well, your attendants are a special part of your journey and they too would appreciate a memento they could cherish for years to come. The private, by appointment only, experience is one you won’t soon forget. A warm welcome to greet you at her door, an unpretentious atmosphere, a very comfortable familiar feeling during your consultation. Let’s meet and design something beautiful for your very special person!

Wedding Timeline Checklist

The typical engagement is 12-14 months but every couple’s timeframe is different. Note: some tasks may not be necessary based on your budget or wedding requirements

12 months from the BIG Day Determine your Budget Make a Guest List Hire a Wedding Planner Decide Formality and Overall Theme Select the Venue Select a Caterer Send out Save the Dates

11 Months from the BIG Day Start Thinking of the Overall Decor Design Hire Vendors that Book up Quickly (for example, photographer)

10 months from the BIG Day Start Shopping for your Wedding Dress (Custom Dresses can take 6-9 months to make) Create your Wedding Website Take Engagement Photos Start Looking at Invitations

9 months from the BIG Day Buy your Wedding Dress

8 months from the BIG Day Make a Gift Registry Select Bridesmaid Dresses

4 months from the BIG Day

Meet with Potential Florists

Have your Final Tasting with the Caterer

7 months from the BIG Day Hire the Ceremony Musicians

Buy Wedding Bands Select Groomsmen Attire and Schedule Fittings

Order Rental Items such as Specialty Chairs, Linens, Drapery, Lounge Furniture, Dance Floors etc.

Book Hair and Make-up Trial

Hire an Officiant

3 months from the BIG Day

Book hotel Room block for guests

Create or Plan your Menu

6 months from the BIG Day Hire a DJ and Lights Technician Explore Wedding-day Hair and Makeup Styles Choose Cake Style and Schedule Tastings Order Stationery and hire a Calligrapher Book Rehearsal Dinner Venue

Brainstorm Guest Favours and Gift Bags Book a Photobooth Rental Write your Vows Select Ceremony Readings Meet with the Officiant and Invite him or her to the Rehearsal Dinner Start Crafting any DIY Items if you Haven’t Already Started

5 months from the BIG Day Book Transportation for Newly-Weds Book Transportation for Guests - if needed Book the Honeymoon Buy or Rent the Grooms Tuxedo Begin Premarital Counseling

2 months from the BIG Day

2 Weeks from the BIG Day

Send the Wedding Invitations with RSVPs due 1 Month Before the Wedding

Chase any RSVP stragglers and deliver final head count to venue and cater

Send out Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Update Registries

First Dress Fitting

Begin Breaking in Wedding Shoes

Pick up your Marriage License

Send Playlist to Reception DJ

Buy Wedding Party Gifts

Make Arrangements for the Caring of Pets and Plants while on Honeymoon

Do a Floral Mock up with your Florist Give the Song Selections to your Ceremony Musician

Delegate Someone to Return Tuxes and Other Rentals

Buy all Small Items (cake stand, cake knife, guest book, card box, ring bearer accessories, hanger for dress, garter)

Send Directions to Wedding Day Limo Driver

Decide on your Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

Final Week before the BIG Day Refresh your Hair Colour

1 month from the BIG Day

Getting your Eyebrows Done

Assemble Gift Bags

Manicure/Pedicure

Pay your Vendors in Full

Get a Massage

Create a Seating Chart

Final Dress Fitting (a bridesmaid should come so they know how to bustle your dress)

Order or Make your Escort/Place Setting Cards Have a Final Venue Walk Thru Put Cash in Tip Envelopes for your Planner/Delegate to Distribute Make sure you have Proper Undergarments for your Dress Order Wedding Programs Confirm Honeymoon Reservations Pick up the Wedding Rings Confirm Final Details with all Vendors

Create a Wedding Day Timeline and Send to your Vendors, Officiant and Wedding Party

Pack your Bags for the Honeymoon Complete any Edible Crafting Clean your Engagement Ring Clear your Work Load so you can Focus on Wedding Festivities and Take it all in Practice your Vows Out Loud Write your Partner a Note Give Photographer and Videographer your Image/Video Requests Prepare a Wedding Day Emergency Kit

Day before the BIG Day Eat a Healthy Meal Pack a Clutch or Small Bag of Personal Items Drink Water Get a Goodnights Sleep Put any Boxes, Suitcases, Bags, Emergency Kits etc. in the Car Attend Wedding Rehearsal

The Morning of the BIG Day Stay off your Feet as Much as Possible Eat Breakfast Drink MORE Water and Make Sure to Stay Hydrated Throughout the day Take your Dress out of the Bag Early on and Have Someone Steam it if Needed Lay out all Items that you want your Photographer to Capture (rings, invitations etc.) Exchange Notes with your Partner Give Wedding Rings and Marriage License to Best Man Say Thank you to Everyone Around you Relax, Smile and Soak in Every Moment

After the BIG Day Ensure Tuxes and Rentals have been Returned Get Wedding Dress to Preservationist or Cleaners Order Thank you Cards (include a wedding photo)

& Ontario Wedding Venues We reached out to Venue’s across Ontario to ask what made their space unique! While we didn’t receive a response back from every venue, we have included 36 for this issue and hope to feature different venues in our next issues!

Hessenland Inn & Schatz Winery Address: 72981 Bluewater Hwy, Zurich ON, N0M 2T0 Website: www.Hessenland.com Years in Business: 37 Hall Capacity(s): 175 What makes you unique? Located along the shores of Lake Huron, nestled between Bayfield & Grand Bend, Hessenland offers a unique combination of history, innovation, and European elegance. Original exposed stone walls in our reception space pairs perfectly with over 40 acres of gardens & vineyard for you and your guests to enjoy the famous Huron County sunsets. We are an inclusive venue that welcomes every person that walks through our doors with open arms and hearts. Our professional team and full-service packages will ensure no detail is overlooked & make every moment a stress-free, fun and memorable experience. We are not just a wedding venue- we are a destination, here to provide you and your guests an immersive experience of all that Hessenland & Huron County has to offer. With 20 guest rooms, in-house catering, bar service, wedding planning services, access to our gardens and vineyards, and our newest addition- Schatz Winery; we are here to ensure every detail has been taken care of and that you and your guests feel supported and cared for.

Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Our full service packages begin at $107.95

Willow Creek Barn Events Address: 12005 Argyle Street, Ailsa Craig (North Middlesex), ON, N0M 1A0 Website: www.WillowCreekBarnEvents.com Years in Business: 4 Hall Capacity(s): 140 seated, 180 non fixed seating What makes you unique? Our beautiful 24 acres includes a century-old barn, flowing creek, spring-fed pond, and dozens of young and old willow trees. Our rustic-country atmosphere gives a natural appeal to the indoor and outdoor spaces. There are no two weddings ever alike at Willow Creek; couples are welcome to bring their ideas of dream vendors and decorations to life. With competitive rates, Willow Creek sees budgets of all sizes. As a familyowned and operated business, Willow Creek treats their clients like friends and family. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $5100 + hst for a mandatory weekend rental (Friday at noon until Sunday at noon). This rate includes washrooms, basic tables and chairs, wedding planning and day-of coordination, and cleaning services. Additional costs above the base booking rate include vendors (i.e., catering, photography/ videography, flowers, etc.) and bartending services ($400 for 2 bartenders, however these employees also clean and maintain the grounds on the day of. Please note: liquor license, PAL license and all liquor and cups/straws/etc. are to be supplied by the client.

La Petite Chapelle Address: 153 Blandford Street, Innerkip, ON, N0J 1M0 Website: www.LaPetiteChapelle.ca Years in Business: 2 Hall Capacity(s): 150 seated, 164 cocktail What makes you unique? La Petite Chapelle is a modern venue, inside a historic church. We offer space for both your ceremony Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Couples can contact us directly for pricing, we have a wide variety of pricing options

Dylan Sandra Photography

Anne Edgar Photography Lydia Ivy Photography

Oak and Olive Photography

Pine Valley Chalet

Guilia Moltisanti Photography

Zac Jolliffe Photography

Address: 1600 River Rd E, Kitchener, ON, N2A 4K8 Website: www.PineValleyChalet.com Years in Business: 11 Hall Capacity(s): 125 What makes you unique? Our unique log style venue that boasts rustic vices from the exposed beams & vaulted ceilings to our licensed wrap around deck. There is no other venue like ours within the surrounding area. We specialize in offering customizable packages to all couples to make the wedding of their dreams come to life! Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue:

The average full service wedding including ceremony, cocktail hour, 3course meal, & late night option is approx., based on consumption bar is $195.00 p/p ( + applicable taxes & service fee)

Kasia Dunn Photography

Storehouse 408 Address: 408 Queen St., Cambridge ON, N3C 1G9 Website: www.Storehouse408.com Years in Business: 2 Hall Capacity(s): 160 seated, 180 cocktail

Chloe Jane Photography

What makes you unique? Clients love our modern-industrial aesthetic and our large, 2,600 square foot open-air courtyard with natural gas fireplace. We also have alarge overhead door that can be open throughout the event. Finally, client love how we offer a simple blank canvas that needs little additional decor. And our gold chairs are something our clients love! Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue:

It all depends on the date, but for a high-season Saturday with catering and open bar, clients can expect to pay about $17,000 (exclusive of taxes and fees) for a full day with all-inclusive catering (cocktail food, full dinner and late-night menu), open bar and all included furniture/rentals.

Brantview Events Pavilion Address: 225 Howell Rd, Saint George, ON, N0E 1N0 Website: www.BrantviewApples.ca Years in Business: 200 year old farm, 6 years for weddings Hall Capacity(s): 140 What makes you unique? Our events pavilion is located on the highest point of our property that overlooks our apple orchard. Our ceremony space is located in the heart of our orchard, surrounded by orchard on all four sides. Itis a beautiful space, with a rustic barn beam pavilion. We are also home to Howell Road Cider Co, a small batch, hard cider company, many couples like to include a cider toast following the ceremony! Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue:

Our venue rental for a full day event is $7000.00 + HST, ceremony white chairs, galvanized steel chairs, harvest tables, bridal suite, two accessible restrooms, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception space, parking and complementary accessible golf cart ride included.

Amerna Bulsi Photography

Kendra Ruth Photo

The Arlington Hotel & Dominion Telegraph Event Centre Address: 106 Grand River St. N., Paris, ON, N3L 2M5 Website: www.ArlingtonHotel.ca Years in Business: 5 Hall Capacity(s): 130 seated, 150 cocktail

Elisha K Photography

What makes you unique? Your magical day begins and ends amid our stunning riverfront backdrop. Located on the banks of the Grand River, the Arlington Hotel and our historic Dominion Telegraph Event Centre offer elegant, Instagram-worthy spaces and themed hotel rooms for your memorable day. Oh, and our Chef-driven menus are delicious. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue:

Our Tied Knot Package is $150 per person, all inclusive (cocktail reception, dinner, late-night table, open bar). The venue rental on a Saturday is $2500 and the ceremony fee is $750. So, for a 100 guest wedding on a Saturday, with ceremony and reception at our venue, it would be approximately $18,250.

Art Gallery of Hamilton Address: 123 King Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8P 4S8 Website: www.ArtGalleryofHamiltons.com Years in Business: 15 Hall Capacity(s): 25-200 What makes you unique? The Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Pavilion at the Art Gallery of Hamilton features a 20 foot ceiling and windows which overlook the licensed Irving Zucker Sculpture Garden. Our wedding consultants work with an in house chef and bar team to create an unforgettable experience. We only host one wedding per day so you and your guests receive our complete attention.

Rob Anzit

Jesse Jonas Photo Brianne Daigle Photography

Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Between $15 000 - $20 000 inclusive

Alyssa Alkema Photography

Dyment’s Glen Drummond Farm Address: 416 Fallsview Rd E., Dundas, ON, L9H 5E2 Website: www.Dyments.com Years in Business: The farm was established in 1887 Hall Capacity(s): 225 What makes you unique? We are an authentic farm venue perched on a cliff! Say I doon the Niagara escarpment overlooking the Dundas Valley, followed by a magical reception with a courtyard bonfire, dancing under the stars and a late night poutine truck! Peter B Photography

Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Couples can contact us directly for pricing.

Cranberry Creek Address: 78 Lynedoch Rd, Delhi, ON, N4B 2W4 Website: www.CranberryCreekGardens.com Years in Business: 4 Hall Capacity(s): 150 What makes you unique? Cranberry Creek Gardens is a picturesque event venue in the small hamlet of Lynedoch. Surrounded by farmland in southern Ontario, our historic white chapel, rustic barn and lush gardens are the perfect backdrop for any special event. We offer onsite accommodations and both full service and DIY event options to ensure your day is exactly what you dreamed of. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue:

We offer various packages including elopements, ceremonies, brunch weddings and receptions. Our pricing and packages start at $950-$18,000 depending on the style of event you select. Upgrades and guests can be added for a fee.

Jo Boucher Photography

Coral Creek Farms Address: 600 Concession 5 Rd, Fisherville, ON, N0A 1G0 Website: www.Instagram.com/Coral.Creek.Farms Years in Business: 1 Hall Capacity(s): 50 inside, 150-200 outside What makes you unique? Our farm is nestled on 115 acres of land, which is accompanied by a vast amount of wooded area. Ideal for woodland rustic weddings and events! On site we have a fully renovated barn suitable for a smaller capacity crowd of up to 50 guests or perfect for catering preparations. Our surrounding farmland can accommodate tents that hold up to 150-200 guests. It is the perfect location where elegance meets rustic, while still remaining to have the relaxed charm of a backyard wedding! Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Costs starting from 3,000 to rent the entire site

for the day (does not include tent).

The Stone Mill Ballroom Address: 271 Merritt Street, St. Catharines, ON, L2T 1K1 Website: www.StoneMillBallroom.com Years in Business: 10+ Hall Capacity(s): 240 What makes you unique? Our building is a 180 year old fully restored Paper Mill. Onsite we have a Boutique Inn, Salon, Spa, Florist, Restaurant and high end Clothing store perfect for the grooms custom suit! Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: approximately $17,000

Tamara Lockwood Photography

David Haskell Daniel Ricci Photography

Amici’s Banquet and Conference Centre Address: 2740 Merrittville Highway, Fonthill, ON, L0S 1E5 Website: www.AmicisBanquetCentre.com Years in Business: 14 Hall Capacity(s): 350 What makes you unique? Amici's Banquet Centre offers a complete package to our brides which includes everything from an on-site wedding with officiant, Martini and hordevours cocktail hour, 6 course customizable individual plated meal, unlimited premium alcohol open bar with Niagara VQA wine, espresso and lattes, DJ service with Dynamic Entertainment and a Premium Décor Package which includes backdrop, head table decor, linens, centerpieces, Chiavari chairs and more! Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Couples can contact us directly for pricing.

St. Joseph’s Banquet & Conference Centre Address: 300 River Oaks Blvd E., Oakville, ON, L6H 5T1 Website: www.SJUCCHall.ca Years in Business: 8 Hall Capacity(s): 450 What makes you unique? Our clients become part of our family & we ensure their desires become reality. Our personal approach to all weddings ensures no details will be missed, and everyone attending the event will be impressed. Our bright, contemporary hall with large floor to ceiling windows ensures maximum awe from our guests & unforgettable food offerings - makes St. Joseph’s Banquet & Conference Center the place to celebrate your love.

Foto Reflection

Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $15 000 (includes 8hr open bar, décor, food)

Milton Banquet & Conference Centre Address: 3090 Steeles Ave W., Milton, ON, L9T 2V3 Website: www.MiltonBanquets.com Years in Business: 40 Hall Capacity(s): 500 indoors, 1500 outdoors What makes you unique? We offer EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE LOCATION Situated on 36 acres of picturesque parkland, running creek with wooden bridge, gazebo and many photography props and photo stations for the ultimate wedding photos imaginable. In addition to the manicured gardens is the courtyard patio and rustic forest, both are perfect for an outdoor Wedding Ceremony. Our open fields are the desired location for outdoor Receptions and Barbeques. Alternatively, or for those seeking indoors… our venue offers 4 unique and elegant reception rooms to host 50-400 guests. In addition, our All-Inclusive wedding packages include full VIP service with hi-quality food menus, complete with Open Bar packages, full selection of the finest linens and décor to complete your event. Lastly, for their convenience our Ultimate Upgrade Package includes 5 vendor services such as; Photography, DJ, Upgraded Lights, Sound and Visual, Wedding Cake and Décor Package, at a 40% discount! As l said…. EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE LOCATION!

EWG - Eglington West Gallery Address: 2301 Keele St. Toronto, ON M6M 3Z9 Website: www.EglingtonWestGallery.com Years in Business: 2 Hall Capacity(s): 350 and 250 What makes you unique? We are a turnkey rustic venue Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: approximately $17,000 - $20,000

The Avenue Banquet Hall Address: 1600 Steeles Ave. W., Vaughan, ON, L4K 4M2 Website: www.TheAvenueBanquetHall.com Years in Business: 20 Hall Capacity(s): 350 What makes you unique? The Avenue Banquet Hall is a single event venue located in Vaughan, which allows for absolute privacy for you and your guests. It boasts a beautiful grand foyer, a separate ceremony room, and a grand ballroom. Known for our delicious in-house catering which offers international cuisine, Kosher catering, and the ability to provide Halal. We offer all-inclusive and customized menu packages to suit your specific needs.

Graydon Hall Manor Address: 185 Graydon Hall Drive, Toronto, ON, M3A 3B1 Website: www.GraydonHall.com Years in Business: 21 Hall Capacity(s): 180 Great Hall, 240 Outdoor Terrace What makes you unique? Graydon Hall Manor was built in 1936 and thoughtfully restored in 2000 as a boutique reception facility designed to retain its original warmth and beauty. Our private, sophisticated settings allow us to host, cater, and tailor events for any occasion. From modest to lavish, our airy formal gardens, 160 foot-long stone terrace, flowing fountains, and gracious Great Hall lend an elegance to any event. Our attentive staff works directly with you, delivering highly personalized service with an uncompromising eye to detail; from establishing an itinerary, designing couture cocktails and custom menus, to perfectly tailored floor plans. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue:

$200pp from November-April or $220 from MayOctober

The Florist’s Loft Address: 1092 Danforth Ave., Toronto, ON, M4J 1M5 Website: www.TheFloristsLoft.com Years in Business: 2 Hall Capacity(s): 80 What makes you unique? Every part of the walls and ceilings is an art form. Truly magnificent in its earthy feel, the installations themselves then get filled with fresh-cut flowers incorporating life and rejuvenation as you walk through and relish the scenery around you. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $2450 for 50 people and $3350 for 80 people

The Symes Address: 150 Symes Rd., Toronto, ON, M6N 0B1 Website: www.TheSymes.ca Years in Business: 3 Hall Capacity(s): 250 and 350 What makes you unique? The Symes is a very unique venue, with a Chic original Art deco architecture. It is a blank canvas with lots of personality. What makes The Symes even more unique is its service and event execution. Making every event special is our main goal.

Carlos Bolivar of Boli Weddings

Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue:

An average wedding at the Symes costs between $250 and $300 per person + HST. This average calculation includes food, bar, rentals, staffing room rental, landmark fee and security. This does not include decor or AV.

YMG – York Mills Gallery Address: 1885 Leslie St., Toronto, ON, M3B 2M3 Website: www.YorkMillsGallery.com Years in Business: 6 Hall Capacity(s): 550 and 175 What makes you unique? Turnkey industrial-rustic venue in Midtown Toronto Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $16, 000 - $20,000

Diego and Liza Photography Katan Studios

Mango Studios

Caesar’s Centre Address: 8841 George Bolton Pkwy, Bolton, ON, L7E 2X8 Website: www.CaesarsCentre.com Years in Business: 20+ Hall Capacity(s): 220 and 75 What makes you unique? Caesar's Centre is a boutique style that allows clients the option of minimizing their decor. Our venue looks beautiful on its own due to the marble style flooring throughout and the accent wall in our main hall. As a family run business, the care we put into each event is unmatched. Our executive chef uses her skills and passion to curate innovative menus for our clientele to make it a memorable experience for their guests. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $12,000 total or $120 per person

Ivy Ridge Weddings & Events Address: 7511 9th Line Thorton, ON, L0L 2N0 Website: www.IvyRidge.ca Years in Business: 1 Hall Capacity(s): 210

Elizabeth in Love Photography Nat Caron Photography

What makes you unique? Originally slated for demolition in the Bradford area this century old bank barn was given a new life on a farm in Ivy, Ontario. The barn was carefully dismantled piece by piece with a vision in mind to be reconstructed to its original beauty with modern day amenities. With a large wrap around porch and impeccable landscaping and gardens situated into a wooded area this wedding venue provides more than just a rustic feel. With endless photo opportunities along with amazing food and beverage services Ivy Ridge provides a very elegant and turn key experience for you and your guests. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue:

A Saturday wedding at Ivy Ridge, we typically tell our clients to expect a minimum budget of $34,500 + HST. This includes exclusive use of property, ceremony & venue rental, food and standard beverage for 120 people, all rentals, set up/ tear down and gratuities. Please note that we are a seasonal venue (May-Oct)

Landings of Willow Creek Golf Course & Event Centre Address: 424 Penetanguishene Rd., Barrie, ON, L9X 1W8 Website: www.LandingsofWillowCreekGolf.com Years in Business: 25 Hall Capacity(s): 150 What makes you unique? Affordable golf and luxury venue 5 minutes from downtown Barrie. Our grand ballroom, glass seasons room & luxurious stone front clubhouse overlooks the golf course and lush greenery. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Couples can contact us directly for pricing.

SV Country Events Address: 27909 Hwy 48, Sutton West, ON, L0E 1R0 Website: www.SVCountryEvents.com Years in Business: 4+ Hall Capacity(s): 120 What makes you unique? We give 3 days access to the property from Thursday to Saturday. we also allow outside licensed catering company to host and serve Dinner. the biggest advantage of this is you can choose the package with basic rental only and bring all you vendors! Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: We have DIY packages which start from $5250.00. We also have all-inclusive package starting from $22k.

The Wilds at Cedar Valley Golf Course Address: 8410 11th Line, Thornton, ON, L0L 2N2 Website: www.GolftheWildss.ca Years in Business: 21 as a golf course, 6 hosting weddings Hall Capacity(s): 100 What makes you unique? The Wilds at Cedar Valley Golf Course offers a beautiful natural setting for your wedding day. As you drive down the country road towards the Wilds you are transported to a beautiful location nestled in the woods, surrounded by mature trees, ponds and wildlife. It is hard to believe you are just outside the busy city line. Summers are resplendent in green with a beautifully manicured golf course and wooded areas with steams, ponds and picturesque locations for photos. The Fall offers a magnificent display of colour for those once in a lifetime pictures. Our screened, timber construction pavilion, located among mature trees overlooking a pond, is the perfect naturally beautiful backdrop for your special day. The pavilion can accommodate up to 100 people and features 24 foot ceiling sand views of the fountain. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $8,500 - $11,000 depending on bar

Aquatopia Conservatory Address: 2710 March Rd., Carp, ON, K0A 1L0 Website: www.AquatopiaConservatory.com Years in Business: 10 Hall Capacity(s): 150 What makes you unique? A Tropical Destination Wedding Venue in Ottawa. Celebrate your wedding day in a tropical splendor, but without the expensive airfare. Recite your vows surrounded by vibrant foliage, while your photographer captures you at your best, bathed in natural light. Indulge in a mouth-watering gourmet menu prepared by our skilled culinary team, then dance the night away under a glass ceiling in full view of the night sky, surrounded by tumbling waterfalls and lush green foliage. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $32,000.00

Bleeks and Bergamot Address: 8230 Bleeks Rd., Ottawa, ON, K0A 1B0 Website: www.WillowCreekBarnEvents.com Years in Business: Since September 2020 Hall Capacity(s): 130 seated, 150-160 non fixed seating What makes you unique? Our riverside property is truly serene, private and stunning for first looks or golden hour shots. Access to the property for engagement shoots in the 18 months leading up to your wedding is included! Couples get their choice of ALL vendors including Catering. Host bar- meaning couples supply all alcoholic beverages of their choosing to fully tailor the bar experience to theirs and their friends and family's tastes. Our contracted professional bar team serves for the duration of the events. Couples can sell their beverages to their guests, to recoup some of their wedding costs if they are on a tighter budget, or they can simply provide all guests with an open bar all night long, while still at a very affordable price point.

Allie Liko Photography

Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $5,500.00 + hst for exclusive day use and includes bartending services.

Century Weddings and Events Address: 1981 Century Road West, North Gower, ON, K0A 2T0 Website: www.CenturyEvents.ca Years in Business: 7 Hall Capacity(s): 300 What makes you unique? Our spacious ceremony site with gorgeous views surrounded by the quiet country living. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $15,000.00

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm

Samantha Danis Photography

Address: 2452 York’s Corners Rd, Edwards, ON, K0A 1V0 Website: www.StanleysFarm.com Years in Business: 28 Hall Capacity(s): 300 in The Maples Hall, 160 in The Southlawn Tent What makes you unique? We are a working farm that raises all sorts of animals right here in the city of Ottawa! Here at Stanley’s we work with our couple's to create a unique personalized experience. Instead of standardized price lists or packages, we offer the flexibility to customize every detail. From the menus &dishware, to the linens & décor, to the tables, chairs & specialty services.

U & I Photography

Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $20,0000.00

Martin Photography

Stonefields Estate Address: 1985 9th Line Beckwith, Carleton Place, ON, K7C 3P2 Website: www.StonefieldsWeddings.com Years in Business: 11 Hall Capacity(s): 220

Stephanie Mason Photography Chelsea Mason Photography

What makes you unique? On your wedding day, the entire 120 acre estate belongs to you. Get ready onsite in our heritage farmhouse and pub. Say your vows in our elegant ceremony house or hold an outdoor wedding under a canopy of trees. Dine in our turn-of-the-century barn, sip cocktails on the verandah, then unwind in our overnight accommodation. Our team will coordinate every detail, from the moment you arrive until your last guest leaves. All you need to do is soak up the atmosphere, and create some memories. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: $119.00 – 169.00 per person – Contact us for

specific pricing

Strathmere Address: 1980 Phelan Road W., North Gower, ON, K0A 2T0 Website: www.Strathmere.com Years in Business: 42 Hall Capacity(s): 15 – 180 What makes you unique? 3 unique venues - an 1860s stone farmhouse, a 160yearold barn and a Garden House with 3 sides of windows that open to the fresh country air. Each venue sits within its own10-acres on the 200-acre farm, so that every couple has exclusivity, privacy and beautiful photo opportunities. Menus that use fresh ingredients grown right on the farm, 33 overnight guest rooms and mani’s, pedi’s, wedding day make-up, chocolatecovered berries and bubbly before the celebrations. These are just some of the reasons why couples have chosen Strathmere for their wedding day for over 40 years. Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Prices range from $10,000 on a Sunday for a

Cocktail Style Reception, to $25,000 on a Saturday with a full dinner reception

The Herb Garden Address: 3840 Old Almonte Rd., Ottawa, ON, K0A 1A0 Website: www.HerbGarden.ca Years in Business: 20+ Hall Capacity(s): Just over 100 What makes you unique? The Herb Garden specializes in providing a rustic and romantic garden setting for celebrating outdoor weddings. We offer exquisite outdoor locations for photos and ceremonies. Historic original cedar log barns for receptions. On site nature trails and a labyrinth to explore. Our greenhouses are filled with aromatic culinary and medicinal herbs. Anita Peeples

Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Our fee for a Friday to Sunday rental is $6,000.

Our catering team works with each couple to design a special menu within their budget (ranging $45-$120 pp).

Country Vegas Elopements Address: 518 Alberton Rd, Alberton, ON, L0R 1A0 Website: www.CountryVegas.love Years in Business: 2 Hall Capacity(s): 10 What makes you unique? Country Vegas Elopements is designed for couples that want to skip the big guest list, the investment that goes with it, the months of planning, and all the stress of putting together the perfect wedding day! We take care of all of the details. The venue, the officiating, the photography, decor, the music, the food, the cake, the refreshments and all the little details to bring it together.

Sadie Martin Media

We offer your choice from two wonderful ceremony locations. One is located on the west end of our property, on the edge of scenic farm field. Our stunning barn beam arbour is the perfect backdrop for you and your partner to exchange your vows with friends and family. Our unique indoor space fuses rustic country, industrial, and 1960s style décor. Your host Donny Lovering is a Humanist Wedding Officiant and will deliver a fun-loving secular style ceremony. Heck, at Country Vegas you can even have 'The King of Rock and Roll' marry you up! Approximate Cost for a 100 person wedding at your venue: Our pricing ranges from $295 up to $1895 for a

10 person, all-inclusive elopement experience

Open Door Studios

& Rebecca Chan Weddings & Events

What sort of services do you offer? Rebecca Chan Weddings & Events offers wedding planning services including full planning, partial planning, day-of coordination and destination wedding planning. We also offer planning and design services for corporate events, social events and product styling. We specialize in luxury wedding planning and providing comprehensive full planning and design services.

What does the day of look like when you have a Wedding Coordinator? When you have a wedding coordinator on your side, your wedding day should be seamless and stress-free so you can truly enjoy your festivities. They take care of the details so you don't have to.

Why is hiring a wedding planner or coordinator so important? The wedding day is so much more complicated now than it was 10 years ago. They are typically big productions with 10-20 vendors to be managed, with a complex and packed itinerary to execute. Hiring a wedding planner assists you with the leg work of sourcing and planning, as well as knowing who to hire for the right job. Hiring a wedding coordinator to take care of the wedding day coordination is the final detail to the wedding, ensuring all the time, money and energy you have put into planning your day is executed properly. Chances are if you don't hire a planner or coordinator, you will take care of all the details yourself or rely heavily on your friends and family. Let them (and yourself!) enjoy the process and wedding day, and let a planner who has experience in planning take care of the headache for you. If you do not enjoy planning or don't have the time to do it well, hiring a planner is especially important.

When hiring a wedding planner or coordinator, what are some important questions to ask before booking? How many years have you been planning and how many weddings do you typically take care of every year? What services do you provide? Do you provide design services as well as planning and coordination? How long are you there on the wedding day? Tell me about a time that you had something not go according to plan and how to came up with a solution for it.

Any helpful advice or tips for our readers? You get what you pay for. Just like in hiring a real estate agent, it is a hospitality role where you can get started with very little knowledge and experience under your belt. Make sure you do your due diligence in hiring a planner with experience and industry connections to make your wedding day dreams come true.

Tell us a bit about yourself? Before I jumped into wedding planner, I was a special events manager in the non-profit sector. Prior to that I had a degree in graphic design. I have always enjoyed the creative process, and weddings and events are an amazing outlet for me to help clients make their dreams a reality. Outside of work, I love to cook, take care of my senior rescue dog, and bike. I stay creative by trying new hobbies regularly like painting, Chinese calligraphy and furniture restoration.

Photography Mango Studios www.MangoStudios.com @mangostudios Planner Rebecca Chan Weddings & Events www.RebeccaChan.ca @rebeccachanweddings

simply fell in love, their relationship all started online & it blossomed into a friendship, partnership and then marriage. They truly showcase a deep love for one another, and now, their lives are only just beginning. The vision that Leslie and Kyle had was simply, natural with touches of color. They’re wedding was originally supposed to be in the summer time, but they decided to get married in the fall instead. The color scheme was light pink with touches of blues and greens. The couple really wanted to the nature of the park venue to really shine through. Helpful Tips: Always listen to your clients, go above and beyond for those who you love and adore, and when all is said and done with designing and making your clients happy. You’ll reap the rewards.

Photography Melanie Phyllis Photography www.MelaniePhyllis.ca @melaniephyllisphoto

Coordinator, Decorator and Florist ECG Wedding Events – Ethan Gill www.ECGWeddingEvents.com @ecgweddingevents

Ceremony Location The Guild Inn www.GuildInnEstate.com @theguildinnestate

Ring Designer Perfect Lover Rings www.etsy.com/ca/shop/PerfectLoverRing

Reception Venue KB Food www.KBFood.com @kbfood Baker Sheila Woodcock Suits Tip Top Tailors – Michael Kors www.TipTop.ca @tiptop

Bridal Gown David’s Bridal - Galina www.DavidsBridal.ca @davidsbridal Hair Stylist Laura Card Make-up Artist Aiesha Woodcock Officiant Steve Ernstberger

You Need to Know About Wedding Stationery There are so many details that go into planning a wedding and the big day itself! Stationery is an extremely important facet of the wedding because let’s face it – without an invitation, there would be no guests to share in your special day. Fun Fact: a stationery designer will probably correct you if you write stationary which is defined as something that does not move in contrast to stationery which is writing paper, especially with matching envelopes (as per the Oxford Dictionary).

About Red Bicycle Paper Co. Red Bicycle Paper Co. is the ultimate destination for beautiful, unique, and custom wedding stationery in South Western Ontario. Owner & Designer, Heather Nagle, believes that a truly memorable invitation will not just announce your event, but reflect who you are, and for your budget. Whether you’re looking for something elegant and classic, clean and contemporary, functionary and pretty or something completely out-of-the-box, Heather will take your vision and create an invitation that is completely yours!

Before the Wedding Save the Date The first piece of stationery that your guests will receive will be the Save the Date. The purpose of the Save the Date is to let the guests know that they are invited to your wedding and should reserve that day in their calendar. These typically provide the guest with the couple’s names, the wedding date and details such as location or town where the wedding will be held. The save the date will include that a formal invitation to the wedding will follow. Save the date cards are not mandatory however are very useful if you have quite a few out of town or out of country guests or are getting married in an alternate country then where you and your guests reside – for example a destination wedding. This will allow them to begin preparing their travel plans. We also recommend sending out Save the Date cards if your wedding is taking place on a Holiday or Holiday weekend that people normally spend out of town or with family and friends – for example New Years Eve, Easter, Victoria Day, Christmas etc. If you are unsure as to whether a friend or family member is making the final guest list, DO NOT send them a save the date. Wait until you are certain as you typically do not want to un-invite guests after they have received a Save the Date. (Covid-19 affected weddings play by a little bit of different rules as guests understand that government regulations restrict the number of guests allowed. Guests, while disappointed that they will not be able to share in your special day physically, understand the difficult decision the couple has had to make). Save the date cards do not have to match your wedding theme or invitation stationery but we recommend having a cohesive flow to the full stationery suite. The cards themselves are usually A2 (4.25 x 5.5”) or no larger than 5” x 7” and typically mailed to the guests 10-12 months before the wedding. All stationery in this article is work by

The Red Bicycle Paper Co. Photography (Left and Right Page) Ariana and Alex Del Mundo Photography www.ArianaDelMundo.com @arianadelmundo

Before the Wedding Wedding Invitation Suite As per Heather from Red Bicycle Paper Co., “wedding invitations are your guests’ first peek into your wedding. Your invitation should give your guests an idea of how to dress, how formal or informal your wedding will be, and what to expect on your special day”. She also says, “a beautiful wedding invitation will spark anticipation from your guests and be a marker point in your planning process (yes, this really is going to happen!)”. A wedding invitation suite is comprised of multiple parts – some mandatory and others optional. Invitation – Mandatory The invitation is the most important piece of your wedding stationery and provides your guests with all the ceremony and reception details. Be sure to include the host of the wedding which can be the couple, the bride’s parents or both families etc. You will also want to make sure the wedding date, ceremony location and start time are included as well as reception venue name, location and start time. We suggest other details be listed on separate cards as to avoid overcrowding the invitation. Let your creativity flow and use your colours or overall décor theme in your stationery design. If using a professional stationery designer for your wedding invitation suite, we recommend booking a consultation 10-12 months before your wedding to discuss the details. The rough turn-around time from design and printing to delivery can be 4-6 weeks. If making your own stationery, start looking online for inspiration around 8 months before and have your design finalized 6 months before the wedding. Depending on the complexity of your design and craftiness required, we suggest you begin creating your invitations 6 months before your wedding so that they are ready to send out 16 weeks before the big day. Keep in mind that the invitation is the star of the suite, so don’t be afraid to try something special whether foil, different shape or paper type. You can use more cost-effective options for other stationery pieces. Tip: If making the invitations yourself, we suggest you make one full invitation suite, place in an envelope and take it to your nearest post office. Have them weigh and measure the suite in order to quote postage. This will allow you to stay within a budget and have the option of modifying the design to fit within cheaper shipping parameters.

Photography Gemini Photography www.GeminiPhotographyOntario.com @geminiphotography

How many to order or make? You will only need one invitation suite per couple/family that you are inviting. Typically, this works out to be 55-60% of your final guest count but will ultimately be affected by how many families and single guests are invited. Always order a couple extra just in case – this will avoid reordering fees if you forget a guest or an invitation gets damaged or lost in the mail. And be sure to keep 1 or 2 copies for your photographer to capture day of. Tips from Heather, Red Bicycle Paper Co. 1. Don’t spend your entire stationery budget on your invitations. Save some room for day-of stationery and signage. 2. Don’t save your stationery till the last minute. Invitations and day-of stationery are important elements that need time to design and produce. 3. Don’t forget to invite your parents and wedding party! Even though you know that they are attending your wedding, it’s still thoughtful to formally invite them. 4. Let your personality shine! Have fun, swear, be you! If you have a favourite sports team, or met your partner somewhere unique, include a small (or big) element in your stationery!

RSVP Cards - Mandatory RSVP cards are sent out as part of the invitation suite 4-6 months before the wedding and are necessary even if you are having your guests reply online. These cards allow your guests to tell you whether they can or cannot attend your big day. Be sure to include the reply by date, a line for their name(s), a response of whether they accept or regret and a space for them to write how many guests will be attending. You may also want to include meal options or whether the guest has any dietary restrictions or allergies. A good rule of thumb is to have your reply by date 5-6 weeks before your wedding so you have time to chase down stragglers. This time frame will also allow for you to finalize the seating chart, place setting cards and guest counts with your vendors. RSVP cards are typically 3.5 x 5” in size with a self-addressed and pre-stamped envelope. Postage is not required for any invitations being mailed to guests living in the US or overseas. Guests outside of Canada will need to use a stamp from their Country on the RSVP envelope. Photography JLP Studio www.JLPStudio.ca @jlpstudio_

Tip: Number the back of your rsvp cards and keep a chart so if any come back blank, you know who it belongs to!

Additional Information Cards - Optional You do not want to overcrowd the invitation so the following is optional information to include as separate cards in the invitation suite envelope. Directions and Maps This is useful to assist out of town guests with the location of the ceremony and reception venue. You can also include directions and information for accommodations for the out-of-town guests. Hotels will often set aside a block of hotel rooms and offer a small discount if booked by a certain date. Registry It is typically viewed as tacky to have the registry information on the formal invitation. If you and your fiancé have a registered for gifts, consider using a separate insert card detailing the store or web URL or note that the information can be found your wedding website. As this card is in the invitation suite envelope and does not require separate mailing, you can make this card as small as you’d like – within reason and legibility of course. Wedding Events Itinerary If your wedding is to be a 2 or 3 day event with multiple dinners or parties, it is a good idea to include an events itinerary.

Day of Stationery We recommend that you coordinate your day of stationery with your invitations when possible. It takes the colour scheme to the next level and keeps the theme consistent throughout! Ceremony Program A ceremony program is a sheet or booklet that outlines the order of the wedding service. It can include the names of the couple, the bridal party and the officiant as well as songs, readings and any tributes to loved ones who have passed away. This piece of stationery can differ greatly between religions and cultures. Table Numbers

While the table numbers do not have to be a stationery item, we do suggest having a legible number on all tables. Whether its vinyl or paint on wood or a gorgeous printed paper designed by your stationery artist, have the number face the reception hall entrance doors so its easily visible as guests enter the room.

Photography (Left) JLP Studio www.JLPStudio.ca @jlpstudio_ Photography (Right) Elisha K Photography www.ElishaKPhotography.com @elishakphotography

Seating Chart Seating charts are typically on display at the entrance to the reception area and allow your guests to locate their assigned table. This sign has endless opportunities for customization and can be created by your stationery designer on foamboard or poster sized paper to be framed or can be on a mirror, windows or acrylic with calligraphy or vinyl. Couples have also used wood boards with hand painted or vinyl lettering. Whatever you choose, we suggesting keeping it consistent with your colours or theme. Names should be listed alphabetically with the corresponding tables noted after the name or can be arranged per table. Place Cards Place cards are used in conjunction with a seating chart and is a card positioned at each place setting. These can either be on their own as a card size 2” x 3.5” once folded down or any size and shape you wish. They can also form part of a favour left for each guest and can either have just their first name or first name with the last initial. Escort Cards Escort cards are normally in lieu of a seating chart/place setting card and are typically set up on a table at the entrance of the reception. Guests would find their names, alphabetically arranged, and the card would indicate their table number. Escort cards are typically the size of a business card once folded down (2” x 3.5”) but can ultimately be in whatever shape or size you choose. Each card will include the guests first and last name as well as table number. Menu

After the Wedding

The menu card informs the guests what to expect for their meal whether it is a plated dinner or buffet meal. We want to reiterate that keeping it consistent with your colours or theme will bring the entire table-scape together. Menu cards can be customizable to any shape and size but it is very common for them to be a 4” x 8” flat card placed on every or every other place setting. If trying to cut down on stationery costs, feel free to place one or two menus per table instead of each place setting.

Thank You Cards A thank you card is the final stationery item and you should plan to send one out to each of your guests approximately 3 weeks after your wedding. In each card, you should include the gift giver’s name(s), what they gifted and a note of appreciation. Most photographers will provide you with a couple of wedding photo sneak peaks within 1-2 weeks of your wedding and you can include a small print in each card if you wish.

The vendors wanted to focus on an elopement style wedding. Keeping it simple and sweet and about the two of them (with some furry friends of course). Romantic and beautiful with lots of Love

Photography Wendy Alana Photography www.WendyAlanaPhotography.com @wendyalanaphoto

Stylist Riley and Dallas www.RileyandDallas.com @rileyanddallas

Ceremony Location Triple C Farm www.TripleCFarm.ca @triplecfarm13

Florist Wildwood Floral & Event Design www.ByWildwood.com @bywildwood

Coordinator & Make-up Artist Elisha Raby www.MakeupByElisha.com @makeup.by.elisha

Ring Designer Laura Tedesco www.LauraTedesco.com @lauratedescojewellery

Hair Stylist Soraya www.SorayaForHair.com @hairbysoraya

Bridal Gown Lidias Brides www.LidiasBrides.com @lidiasbrides

Vintage Bottles for Boho Style Wedding Decor Incorporating something old is a tradition that has been recorded as early as 1871 and appeared in the novel Purple and Fine Linen by American author Emily Post in 1905. In the 2000’s, boho, short for bohemian, became a hot trend for weddings which drew influences from the 60’s and 70’s. This wedding theme includes free flowing and textured dresses, wild flowers, free-spirited hairstyles and flower crowns with vintage and antique inspiration and textures into the décor. It has become increasingly popular to use vintage bottles as budvases on the guest tables and we are going to tell you how to find them! History of Amber Bottles There are many different colours of vintage glass bottles including Amber, Yellow Amber, Clear, Cobalt, and various shades of Green. For the sake of this article, we will be mainly discussing amber glass bottles as they are more commonly used in boho style weddings along with their clear counterparts. Amber glass became extensively manufactured in the 19th century by mixing sulfur, iron and carbon into the base glass formula. Amber glass is particularly useful when the product is light sensitive, as amber glass completely blocks out UV light as well as blue light and all other light wavelengths under 450 nm. In 1918, Clorox bleach released their product to American households in a 15-ounce amber “pint” bottle which was the same container used by other companies to bottle a variety of liquid products. The original bottles had no markings on the glass which meant if the paper label came off or was removed, it was virtually impossible to figure out which were Clorox by appearance. The same issue occurred with medicines.

After 1929, Clorox bottles began to have embossments and raised letters on the glass to distinguish brands which helped decrease the many incidences of someone choosing the wrong bottle and poisoning themselves or someone else. Amber bottles are still extremely popular today within the brewing, essential oil and pharmaceutical industries. Many people love the gorgeous colouring of the amber bottles and exclusively collect the originals. Purchasing Original Vintage Bottles Thrift stores are the best place to start looking for your vintage or antique amber and clear bottles. It will be your best bet to find the bottles for the $1-10 range but keep in mind that these bottles, especially amber bottles, are popular and will get picked over quickly. Check stores often. Kijiji, Ebay and Facebook Marketplace are also a good place to look for vintage or antique amber and clear bottles. That being said, the bottles found on these sites are more likely to be more expensive as the owners tend to understand a little better about the value of the bottles versus thrift stores. On these sites the bottles range from $4-85+ but the average bottles being between $15-50 each. Flea Markets and Antique Markets are a guaranteed place to find vintage or antique amber and clear bottles but the pricing is going to be similar to that of Kijiji and Ebay ranging from $4-85+. Most of these sellers, especially at Antique Markets, are aware of the value of these bottles and are more likely to sell their collections for as close to market value as possible. Now here is the math… A typical rectangle guest table is 8ft long which beautiful displays 8-20 bottles down the center depending on the fullness you are envisioning. And with the average wedding hosting approximate 150 guests (pre-covid), this equates to approximate 152-380 bottles required. Unless you are the most frugal shopper and have all the time in the world, you would be looking at spending approximately $600-$6,000 on bottles which, depending on your budget may not be realistic.

Here are some options to obtain this look for cheaper. 1. Thrift to your hearts content but don’t be upset if you can’t find more than a handful of original bottles in your price range. A good goal is 2 per guest table as this will add authenticity to the decor. 2. Drink some beer or collect empties from your friends and family! Alexander Keiths, Molson, Labatt Blue, Budweiser, Coors as well as many more beers are sold in brown bottles. These beers average under $2 per bottle and you can soak the empty bottles in soapy water overnight to help remove the labels. There are also some beers that come in more unique bottles that will help give you variety on your table. Beaus Lug-Tread Lagered Ale is a craft beer available in most Ontario Beer Stores and has a distinctly long and narrow neck. From time-to-time, you can also find stubby beer bottles available at the beer store. 3. Many places still manufacture and sell modern amber glass bottles. For example, Uline sells Amber Boston Round Glass Bottles in 8oz and 16oz sizes, among others. Their 8oz bottles are approximately 2.375” wide by just shy of 5.5” tall and cost $1.65 $1.85 each plus tax depending on quantity ordered (must order in cases sizes of 12). Their 16oz bottles are just shy of 3” wide by 6.64” tall and cost $2.00 $2.20 each plus tax depending on quantity ordered (must order in case sizes of 12). 4. Rent them. While having a collection of 152-380 Amber bottles may be satisfying, it can be time consuming to list and sell them after the big day. There are a handful of rental companies that have collections of vintage or antique Amber and Clear bottle collections and can be as little as $0.75/bottle to rent. Some companies that have amber bottles rentals are: Emerald Event Rentals (www.EmeraldEventRentals.ca) Kenora The Perfect Table (www.ThePerfectTable.ca) serving GTA The RoseGold Grand Inc. (www.theRGGinc.ca) serving Southern Ontario Tufts and Toile (www.TuftsAndToile.ca) Burlington

Photography Rebecca Sprau Photography www.RebeccaSprauPhotography.com @rebeccasprauphotography Venue Coral Creek Farm @coral.creek.farm Coordinator & Decor The RoseGold Grand Inc. www.theRGGinc.ca @theRGGinc Stationery The RoseGold Grand Inc. Stationery @theRGGinc.stationery Hair Stylist Doll Up With Me www.Dollup-MobileHairandMakeup.com @dollupwithme

Makeup Artist Beyoutiful by Emily Nicole @beyoutifulbyemilynicole Florist Bloom by Helen www.BloombyHelen.com @bloombyhelen Bridal Gowns Bella Mia Bridal www.BellamiaBridal.com @bella.mia.bridal Grooms Suit Collins Formal Wear (Hamilton) www.CollinsFormalWear.com @collins_formalwear @collinsclothiers Baker Take the Cake Hagersville @takethecakehagersville

Kim and Cici

Photography Astora Studio www.AstoraStudio.com @astora.studio Videography Anna Chiranova @achiranova Venue Toronto City Hall Baker VaVa Designer Cakes @vavadesignercakes

Dress East Meets Dress @eastmeetsdress Suit Massimo Dutti www.massimodutti.com Ring Designer Cartier www.cartier.com @cartier

The Perfect Outfit for Your Wedding While many wedding checklists leave selecting your suit or tuxedo styles and colours closer to the big day it is important to not leave it to the last minute to ensure you achieve your wedding vision. Suit or Tuxedo? One of the beginning decisions will be whether you want a casual look, suit, or tuxedo. We are often asked what the key difference is between a suit and tuxedo? Traditionally, a tuxedo has satin on the lapels, pocket jetting, buttons, and satin piping down the pants. While suits have the same material as the jacket on the lapel and pockets as well as regular buttons. Rent or Purchase? Your next choice will be whether you want to rent or purchase your wedding attire. Purchasing a tuxedo is not always pocket friendly and does not have as much of a versatile use as it once did. At Collins Clothiers whether you wish to rent a suit or tuxedo the pricing will be the same. All of our full rental packages include everything you will need from head to toe – jacket, pants, shirt, vest, tie/bowtie, suspenders, pocket square, cufflinks, and shoes. It’s important to consider the fit of the suit (i.e. slim fit vs. modern fit) and size range especially if you’re outfitting multiple people in your wedding party of varying height/weight and age – remember your ring bearer and junior usher! Collins Clothiers has an exclusive suit program that allows each wedding party member to make their own decision whether they would like to rent or purchase the exact same outfit and comes in an incredible size range from 2-72!

Connect with Collins Clothiers www.CollinsClothiers.com @collinsclothiers

Rental Process Once you have had your initial consultation and chosen styles, your wedding party members will need to be measured and fitted for their outfit. At time of measurement the members in your wedding party should expect to pay a deposit to reserve their attire. All rentals are ready for pick-up two days before your wedding date and due back the next business day. Once your rentals are available for pick-up we will have you try the entire outfit at the store to ensure everything fits, and share every little tip and trick to make you look amazing on the big day! Tips: 1. Start shopping for your wedding day suit or tuxedo at least six months ahead of your wedding date. 2. At the initial consultation have only you and your fiancé present. 3. Let the couple getting married stand out from the wedding party (i.e. a different coloured shirt, tie, bow tie, or pocket square!) 4. Bring a swatch to your consultation of any and every colour you want to match. 5. Try-on your suit when you pick-up before leaving the store, making sure everything fits how you envisioned.

Questions to Ask: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Do you offer both suit/tuxedo rentals and purchases? Can you match my dress colour (or wedding theme)? What is the size range for this style? Are alterations included in the price? Do you have multiple locations or how can you accommodate my party members from out of town?

About Collins Clothiers At Collins we take pride in knowing the quality of our menswear far exceeds expectations. From formal to everyday apparel, we provide high-end menswear for every budget. We are fully owned and operated family business and have been since our start in 1965. The Collins Family is involved in the day-to-day running of the company, while working to maintain and exceed the high standards that our clients have come to enjoy. Having built an outstanding reputation in tuxedo rentals, we now have carried that forward by expanding into men’s apparel and accessories. Just like our tuxedos, we provide contemporary styles that stand out. Collins Clothiers – the world of timeless elegance and luxurious fabrics... today and tomorrow.

Inspired by the beautiful mountainous backdrop of Patagonia, the focus of this sustainable styled shoot was to capture the culture and beauty of a destination wedding in our own backyard, the great Canadian landscape! The concept for this styled shoot came from Melissa of Melissa Noelle Photography. Melissa, being of Chilean heritage, wanted to pay homage of her roots to showcase the beauty of the Patagonia scenery. With the world in lockdown and with many wedding plans foiled, Melissa and Wendy of WLA Events crafted up the idea of how a destination wedding can be captured close to home, while making decisions that were eco-friendly and had sustainable elements. With the creative direction at Wendy’s discretion, she wanted to highlight the ways to honour a winter wedding by introducing textures and elements that may otherwise be too warm to use in the summer, to create a juxtaposition of how a hot climate can complement a cooler environment in decor and styling.

Photography and Concept Melissa Noelle Photography www.MelissaNoellePhotography.com @melissanoellephotography Videography Beaufilms Production www.Beaufilms.ca @beaufilmsvideo Venue Farm Hill Weddings www.FarmHillWeddings.com @farmhillwedding Planner, Creative Director and Co-Stylist Wendy La @wla_events Florist and Co-Stylist Bergamot Floral Design @bergamotfloraldesign

Couch, Table Top Rentals, Barrels, Beverage Pretty Wild Events www.PrettyWildEvents.com @prettywildeventdecor Baker Heck Yes! www.HeckYes.ca @heckyescake Make-up Artist Victoria Rendon Beauty @vr.beauty Hair Stylist Blown and Balayaged @blown.and.balayaged

Accessories and Hat The Loved One @theloved_one Rings FTJ Co. @ftjco Stationery and Signage A Good Day Inc. www.AGoodDayInc.com @agooddayinc Charcuterie Board Kitchen Farmacy www.KitchenFarmacy.ca @kitchenfarmacychef

Bridal Gown Aurelia Hoang @aureliahoang

Floral Tips with BBBlooms Floral Studio I, Brad Baker, founded BBBlooms Floral Studio in 1999 in Toronto ON and after two years relocated to Niagara to take advantage of all that Niagara has to offer; a beautiful wine region, waterfront properties and a budding culinary scene. Twenty-two years in the wedding business has taught me a lot about people. I’ve learned how to put together a beautiful wedding from start to finish for even the most discerning couple. And the most important part of a wedding is the ceremony. When a couple is thinking about florals for their wedding one of the most important areas to focus on is the ceremony. The ceremony is where it all begins, where two lives become one, where two families joined together to support the couple and friends are invited to see their besties Unite to start their lives happily married. As your guests arrive for your wedding, (and some of them might start to arrive as early as an hour before hand) they need to know that they have arrived at the proper place. When they walk into that space it needs to announce that there is a wedding happening here today and that it is your wedding. The ceremony space needs to reflect your tastes and style since it sets the tone for the rest of the day. Whether your style is a classic modern or a bohemian vibe, you need to make sure that the florals convey that. I like to make sure that the colour palette that is chosen is the favorites of the couple and not just about the latest trends. If the trends are speaking to you then go in that direction. Keep in mind that the photograph of the two of you from your wedding day will be that constant reminder of the choices you made. Make sure when you look back that the choices you made you still love them 30 or 50 years down the road.

Connect with BBBlooms Floral Studio www.BBBlooms.com @bbbloomsfloralstudio

I have couples all the time tell me, “we would rather spend our money at the reception than the ceremony since we are only going to take 20 minutes to get married”. In actual fact your ceremony flowers are for your guests to enjoy seeing as they will be sitting there for more time than you will be standing there at the altar. One of the best things that your florist can do for you when you are talking about your florals is to make suggestions as to how you can repurpose your ceremony flowers at your reception. If it is an outdoor ceremony, you may have something garnishing a pergola or arbour, that can then be reused as décor on the head table. If the ceremony is taking place indoors, you may choose to have floral pieces created to sit on pillars or self-standing on either side of the altar. These can then be transferred and used on either side of the main entrance to your reception venue. Floral arrangements placed down the aisle beside the pews or chairs can then be placed on guest tables back at the reception as centerpieces. There are many ways that your florist can create your ceremony pieces to be repurposed, don’t be afraid to ask. The only time that I would not recommend repurposing your ceremony flowers is when your timeline between ceremony and reception is too tight. You never want to see a vendor weaving items through your cocktail hour and disrupting your guests. In this case, you may want to repurpose your ceremony flowers the following day for your wedding brunch. When you are meeting your florist for the first time, make sure to have pictures of things you like and things you do not like. This will help the florist narrow down your style and preferences in order to help you put together a beautiful wedding. Don’t forget to have fun and let the professionals take care of you!

Photography (Top Left) JLP Studio www.JLPStudio.ca @jlpstudio_ Photography (Right) Serena Swan Photography www.SerenaSwanPhotography.com @serenaswan

Anita and Ravi

Photography Nila Halycia www.NilaHaylcia.com @nilahalyciaphotography Venue Private Residence, Brampton Make-up Artist Makeup with Meghan @makeupwithmeghan

& Melissa Eggleton of Floral Frenzy What would you say is the biggest trend right now with wedding florals? I would say the biggest trend right now with wedding flowers is modern and fun styles with pops of colour. Also, lots of floral installations with different looks for the aisle backdrop.

What are the most common flowers that couples ask for as part of their centerpieces and bouquets? The most common flowers are always roses. They always seem to be a favourite as they come in every colour, smell wonderful and there are lots of ways to style them.

Are there any flowers that you often get requests for that are not in season during peak wedding season? With the pandemic, there is actually a shortage of flowers. As a lot of the flowers are imported from the South, there has been a lot of disruption in the industry of getting the flowers into Canada. So, it’s not really that I can’t get a peony per say, it’s more of how much are you willing to pay for something? And waiting to see if the shipment is in for that week. That’s why I always educated my couples to tell them that sometimes flowers will have to be swapped for something similar in season. Having multiple suppliers is key.

Connect with Flower Frenzy Florist www.FlowerFrenzyFlorist.com @flowerfrenzyflorist

What are the most common bouquet types and what are the main characteristics of each? The most common type of bouquet I do is more of a contemporarygarden-wild look. The characteristics would be lots of different types of florals in a bouquet with wild looking greenery; some more than others depending on the brides’ preference. The florals also vary in height, so they don’t look compact. It’s the more whimsical but still classy looking. This is my personal style and most of my clients come to me for this look. The other bouquet that I also prefer to create is a more contemporary look. This look is more modernized but still very classy. I try to use unique flowers you don’t see as often in Bridal Bouquets such as Anthurium and mix them with more high-end wedding flowers such as Peonies and Ranunculus Do you have any tips or advice for our readers about wedding florals? My tips would be to just have fun! Make sure you have a decent budget for florals if you want them to have an impactful look at your wedding! Tell us a little about yourself? I am from Burlington Ontario and have been working in the industry for about 10 years now. I am a naturally creative person who is passionate about nature, design, and people. This is what brings me to loving floral design and wedding setups. I’m always venturing around Ontario for new weddings, and I couldn’t love it more. I currently live and operate my business out of Hamilton, where I plan on expanding.

Althea and Quincy

Take lots of pictures!

Photography Fedora Media www.FedoraMedia.com @fedora_media

Ring Designer Peoples Jewellers www.PeoplesJewellers.com @peoplesjewellers

Videography Mystery Man Photo

Baker Seed Confections www.SeedConfections.com @seedconfections

Venue The Windemere Manor www.WindermereManor.com @windermeremanor Decorator Simply White Wedding Décor www.SimplyWhiteWeddings.ca @simplywhite_decorator

Bridesmaid Dresses Bud Gowan Suits Collins Formal Wear www.CollinsClothiers.com @collins_formalwear

Hair Stylist Adex Salon Makeup Artist Ashley V Makeup @ashleyvmakeup Caribbean Steel Drums Ken Lewis www.KenLewis.com Limo Grandeur Limousine www.GrandeurLimousine.com

Brock Stacey of Beaux Florals Beaux Florals is all about creating something that sets us apart from other designers. For me, it’s our colour palettes of such wild dimensions of colour. With a background in hair, it all starts with colour theory, bringing tone on tones, adding those wild pops of colour and never being afraid to try new things. With a love for an asymmetrical shape, whimsical greens, and a variety of unique vessels. I love that Wedding florals are so personalized for each couple. I love when a groom or partner shows just as much interest as their spouse when deciding on a theme or colour palette. It's so important to me that the couples get involved with planning their special day. I feel like I can really get to understand a client personally just by the florals and colours they have chosen. It's also very special to me when a couple says, "We trust you. you have free range of design!" I've noticed that with covid and having to move their dates to a later time, clients have even moved towards brighter colours than originally planned, wanting that feeling of warmth, excitement and garden inspired. I've also noticed that everlasting dried florals are still a huge trend! I think that the fact that floral budgets are high, it's a special plus to be able to keep your dried floral arrangements as a keep-sake or even giveaway. What a great little reminder to be able to keep your everlasting arrangements for years to come!

Connect with Beaux Florals www.BeauxFlorals.com @beaux.florals

Ceremonie Studios

Alina Elvins Photography

Booking your florist is just as important as booking your venue! With such a high demand for florals across the globe, it's so important to lock in your designer to be available for your wedding date! Especially when it comes to specific flowers and colours during a wedding season. Luckily with the science of growing, flowers that were once a seasonal bloom, can now be grown indoors by some of the largest growers all over the world! When booking your floral designer, it always helps to create a spreadsheet or vision board to help designers understand your views and concepts. I always tell my clients, flowers are so important to bring in that energy of connection, mood, and emotions. I think some of the most important details when creating your floral package would be your budget. What I'm quickly learning is that education is key to success when building an experience. Based on budget, it's very easy to understand a client's sense of design, style, and expectations.

Kathy DeMerchant Photography

Geoff Shaw

Floral design started for me as an escape from my everyday work. When I first got into florals, I was living up in Muskoka managing my restaurant. Being in a small town, I needed to be creative and get inspired. I would wake up early every week to forage wild flowers off the side of the roads and in my backyard. These flowers were spread across my restaurant as a way to set a mood. Not soon after I was asked to create arrangements for a Breast Cancer Fundraiser close to home. And that was it for me. Based on the reactions and interest, I knew how it made me feel and what I needed to pursue. Shortly after I had sold my properties up north, closed my hair salon at the start of covid, and made Beaux Florals a house hold name throughout the pandemic. It has been the most amazing year to date with feeling the love and support from family, friends and fans all over the world!

Showcasing a beautiful garden themed Bridal Shower.

Photography Scarlet Lens Photography www.ScarletLensPhotography.ca @scarletlensphotography

Florist La Petite Fleur www.PetiteFleur.ca @lapetitefleurcnd

Stationery Red Bicycle Paper Co. www.RedBicyclePaperCo.com @redbicyclepaperco

Venue La Petite Chapelle @lapetitechapelleevents

Bridesmaid Dresses, Robes & Jammies By Catalfo www.ByCatalfo.com @bycatalfo

Catering Food Girl Gone Grazy @girlgonegrazy

Coordination Plan It Right Events www.PlanItRightEvents.ca @planitrightevents Decorator Tableau Scapes www.TableauScapes.com @tableauscapes

Hair Stylist Teased Bridal www.TeasedBridal.com @teasedbridal Makeup Artist Mood Beauty Bridal @moodbeautybridal

Linens Latkat Linens www.LatkatLinens.com @latkatlinens Balloon Artist Balloons Oxford Occasions www.OxfordOccasions.ca @oxfordoccasions Chairs Guelph Tents www.GuelphTentRental.com @guelphtents

Alissa MacDonald of Heart and Sola Canada What are Sola Wood Flowers made from? How are they made? Sola Wood Flowers are made mainly from a plant called Cassava which is a woody shrub (also sometimes called Yuca, not to be confused with Yucca). The Cassava root, organically grown, is a major source of carbohydrate and can be dried to a powder to create tapioca. Each flower is handmade and hand painted/dyed, no two look alike. Making the flowers themselves requires a lot of skill and time. In the sola wood industry, you either work with the flowers or you make them - I work with them.

How long do they last? Do they deteriorate? The flowers will last a life time and will not deteriorate! There is a risk of mold IF they are stored in a tightly sealed container without air circulation. I include a “flower care” guide with all of my clients, which basically says to ensure the flowers have air circulation and the proper way to clean the dust off the flowers (which accumulates like any other household object!) There are no synthetic materials needed to produce raw sola wood flowers, and there are no machines involved when forming the flowers. Since sola flowers are essentially wood, they are biodegradable meaning they are able to break down and decompose safely into the earth. Even with additives like glue and paint (where some can even use ecofriendly paint), sola flowers will ultimately break down better than plastic flowers. Sola wood flowers are the most environmentally friendly choice out of the 3, especially considering production and disposal processes.

Connect with Heart and Sola Canada www.HeartandSolaCanada.ca @heartandsolacanada

What makes Sola Wood flowers unique? What makes them a good alternative to real flowers? Sola flowers come in a natural wood colour, and then are hand painted by your florist. They can look realistic or they can be painted in custom colours/patterns! They will feel spongy or hard- depending on the paint used. Sola florists can also use glycerin to soften the painted flowers, however, they still won't be as flexible as fresh flowers. Sola wood flowers are a different type of flower option as even though they do not fully resemble fresh flowers, they bring their own unique texture, mood and aesthetic to any setting. Since everything down to the stamen on a sola flower is hand painted, clients are encouraged to choose and customize their bouquets to match their vision! If your florist can get their hands on the dye/paint colours you want, they can make the colour scheme of your dreams. Sola Flowers are hand made to look like various flower species, so that you can have any type of flower without the restriction of what’s in season. Each of these can be customized, including size, colour and fillers and can be added into the bouquets, corsages, boutonnières, archways, centerpieces, and more. Similar to artificial flowers, sola wood is resilient and the flowers themselves are very lightweight, making them very easy to transport. The only weight added to them is from the greenery and filler. Sola wood does not naturally have a smell, making it ideal to avoid allergic reactions. If you enjoy scented floral arrangements and it suits your guests, you can add any essential oil under the petals to bring a light pleasant smell to your sola arrangements.

How long have you been using them? When did they become popular? I’ve been working with sola flowers since March 2020. They have been super popular in the USA since appearing on Dragons Den. It is fairly new to Canada, which is why I am one of two sola wood florists who do weddings in Canada.

What is the average price range for a standard bouquet? Out of my current orders, $200 is the current average price as most brides want a wild bouquet with lots of greenery and filler

How can Sola Wood Flowers be customized? Can they be used for Boutineers, Centerpieces, Arbours etc? At Heart & Sola Canada I work with every couple / client to get the florals they want. The first step is sending me their inspiration photos. I look through them and put together a quote for them, with photos of the greenery/filler I found that is similar to their photos. I then ask each couple to go to Home Depot and select their EXACT paint shade. They can even bring a physical object in and Home Depot will scan it and create a custom colour. This is great for those tricky bridesmaids dress colours! What makes me different as a florist is I take each client “on the ride” with me as I craft their florals. I send them updates and photos as I work for approval. This gives my clients peace of mind and an “I helped make that” mentality. My clients aren’t shown their wedding orders the day of the wedding, they receive them weeks in advance. So, there is no surprises on their wedding day. With my boutonnieres I use a specially designed magnet base, which doesn’t pierce the suit AND it can be put on the fridge after the wedding. These flowers arrangements can be centerpieces, bridal bouquets, bridesmaids bouquets, boutonnières, wreaths, ceremony arrangements or anything you want. I just need an inspiration photo!

Tips or advice for a bride considering Sola Wood Flowers? Preserved greenery/filler can be used with sola wood flowers – however I recommend using artificial instead as there is a small risk of the preserved greenery/filler molding after a few years and/or leaking colour onto the sola wood flowers. Artificial doesn’t.

Rainbow Love

Photography Fostered Photo @fosteredphoto Venue Pine Valley Chalet www.PineValleyChalet.com @pinevalleychalet Decorator, Florals & Planning The RoseGold Grand Inc. www.theRGGinc.ca @theRGGinc Planning & Coordination New Berlin Weddings & Events www.NewBerlinWeddings.ca @newberlinweddings

Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist Michelle Lovell Beauty www.MichelleLovell.ca @lovelly_beauty.and.wellness Dress More2Love Brideal www.More2LoveBridal.com @more2lovebridal Suit Collins Formal Wear www.CollinsClothier.com @collins_formalwear

Stationery Liz Kotsamanes Designs www.LizKotsamanesDesigns.ca @lizkotsamanesdesigns Photobooth Picture Us Mirror Photo Experience www.PictureUs.ca @pictureus_kw Styling Mat Emily Paints Events www.EmilyPaintsEvents.com @emilypaintsevents

Connect with The Wedding Lawyer www.TheWeddingLawyer.ca @theweddinglawyerca

Alycia Rose The Wedding Lawyer Deposits, are they really non-refundable? As any prudent Lawyer would say, it depends! In the context of wedding vendor contracts, the purpose of your initial deposit payment is to motivate both parties to fulfill their obligations under the contract. The intention of a non-refundable deposit in a wedding vendor contract is meant to compensate the vendor in the event the couple no longer wants to move forward with the vendor’s services. However, as COVID-19 has been the sole reason why couples and vendors cannot move forward with the contracted services, these deposits are protected under consumer protection legislation in Ontario and any monies paid, including deposits, should be returned to the couple immediately upon request. During this pandemic, what is the most common reason your clients are coming to you for advice? Most couples come to me after they feel they have exhausted all other avenues of negotiation with their vendors. Once on board, we attempt to negotiate either a fair and comparable postponement or microwedding, negotiate a deposit return or credit in exchange of a full and final release of the subject contract, or to initiate litigation against the vendor for failure to return monies paid for non-delivery of services. On a secondary level, we are here to be an effective liaison between the couple and the vendor to ensure that that emotions aside, this relationship remains a positive one. After all, these couples are sharing one of the most important days of their lives with these vendors! Is there anything that can be done about vendors or venues going out of business? Unfortunately, there is very little that can be done if a vendor or venue goes bankrupt. However, there are firms that can assist couples as unsecured creditors in an attempt to retrieve some or all of their deposits. I should note that if a vendor does go out of business but the corporation remains active, we are still able to pursue them legally. This is why it is so important to make every attempt to negotiate your monies back, or to agree to partial services as early as possible – this will ensure that if the event cannot proceed at all, or as originally intended, couples are at least maximizing their return on their hefty deposits. When signing new contracts, what are some Do’s and Don’ts? I cannot stress this enough: do not sign a new contract! There will likely be consequences to signing a new contract in the midst of a pandemic that may affect a couple’s success rate during the course of litigation. Furthermore, you want to be careful that no new clauses are added to the contract that don’t also protect the couple. Lastly, we want to ensure that the couple is receiving similar and comparable dates, accommodations and pricing as the original contract provided. Overall, the best advice I can give is to contact a legal professional to negotiate an amendment to the existing contract or to review any new contracts before signing or making any payments.

Do you have any comments about Wedding Insurance policies and the Pandemic no longer being seen as an Act of God? For couples who sign a contract during the course of the pandemic, insurance companies will likely take the position that the pandemic cannot be considered an Act of God. This is because the pandemic is now a foreseeable event that the couple should have contemplated as potentially affecting their ability to uphold their obligations under the contract. This could also be true in the course of litigation. This is why we are adamant on ensuring our clients do not sign new contracts and instead, agree to execute amendments - or for those looking to book their weddings for the first time, ensure that they seek legal representation to assist with renegotiating the proposed terms of the vendors’ contracts. Any other advice for Brides and Grooms trying to navigate the legalities of planning a wedding during Covid? Prior to the pandemic, couples rarely contemplated their vendor contracts – if they read them at all. Couples now know that these are very real contracts with real consequences. These contracts are drafted to protect the vendors not the couples and any clarifications made by representatives of the vendors cannot, and should not, be relied upon. My advice, both now and into the future: do not sign any contract without it being reviewed by a qualified legal representative. It is always easier to avoid a fire than put one out! Tell us about yourself – The Wedding Lawyer I have been working in the legal field since 2015 and in 2018, I started my own law firm. When I was planning my own wedding at the end of 2019, I realized how one-sided and outright outrageous some of my wedding vendor contracts were and became concerned that most couples were signing similar contracts without a second thought as to their legal ramifications. Shortly thereafter, the pandemic hit and a few friends of mine who were scheduled to get married in 2020 reached out to me to help them negotiate their deposits back from uncooperative venues. A few friends turned into hundreds of referrals and alas, The Wedding Lawyer was born! Since then, I have spent the majority of my time assisting couples with their wedding planning, negotiating solutions for their predicaments, and being a supportive ear for those who, at the end of the day, just want to celebrate their love and start new and exciting chapters in their lives!

Disclaimer: The information provided within is for general information purposes only, it is not to be relied upon as legal advice and does not establish any solicitor/client relationship or retainer. Always seek a review of your individual circumstances from a qualified legal professional. By reading this article, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer and agree to waive all liability for use of any information herein.

Flower Farm with Allison and Holly

Photography and Host Honey & Lux www.HoneyAndLux.com @honeyandlux

Make-up Artist Victoria Rendon Beauty www.VictoriaRendonBeauty.com @vr.beauty

Baker The Pie Plate www.ThePiePlate.com @thepieplate

Planning and Coordination Confetti and Co. www.confettiand.co @confettiand.co

Hair Stylist Lisa Chambers @hair_by_chambers

Dress For Love & Lemons www.LikeShop.me/ForLoveAndLemons @forloveandlemons

Location and Florals Feeder Flower Farm www.FeederFlowerFarm.ca @feederflowerfarm Stationery Red Bicycle Paper Co. www.RedBicyclePaperCo.com @redbicyclepaperco

Tablescape W Events & Décor www.WEventsandDecor.com @weventsanddecor

Suit Hebe Studio www.Hebe-Studio.com @hebe_studio

Table and Chair Rental Fresh Look Design Inc. www.FreshLookDesignInc.com @freshlookdesigninc

Changing the Lens An intentional community engaged in conversation around anti-oppression in the wedding industry

& Changing the Lens Amber Farrington & Theresa Campbell Changing the Lens, also known as the CTL Collective, was launched in 2021 after an instance of discrimination went viral in 2020 when two brides were told that the company wouldn’t “work with homosexual couples”. Founder, Amber (she/they) of Honey & Lux Photography, noted that “wedding vendors were addressing it, throwing up statements and rainbow emojis in their bios & websites, making sure it was known that they were accepting of all love. Some of them admitted that they had never had an opportunity to work with 2SLGBTQ+ couples, so they don't necessarily have any portfolio content to reflect their standpoint.” Terminology: 2SLGBTQ+ is an acronym that means twospirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning. The plus sign means other sexual identities including pansexual. The idea for CTL Collective, Amber says, “was to create some beautiful styled shoots so photographers could capture real queer love for their portfolio. And, more importantly, to engage in conversations lead by folks who identify as part of these communities. As this project gained more attention, Theresa of Autumn Artistry Makeup and Hair, a queer & Black wedding vendor has come onboard as we continue this work. We want vendors to learn how to build a practice where folks not only feel welcome, but understood, safe & celebrated”. They also want to educate vendors on “how to reduce harm” as well as language to use or not use and other consent & safety pieces”.

Connect with Honey and Lux www.HoneyAndLux.com @honeyandlux Connect with Autumn Artistry Makeup & Hair www.AutumnArtistryMakeupAndHair.com @autumnartistrymakeupandhair Connect with Changing the Lens @ctl.collective

The CTL Collective also includes educators Lauren Burrows (she/her) and Taylor Berzins (she/her) to facilitate workshops to cover “these and intersecting topics such as discrimination that Black folks experience in this same industry, class/socio-economic barriers to accessing these spaces, marriage equality and what that has looked like historically for disabled folks, Indigenous folks, etc. These issues are inherently connected and cannot be talked about separately. Changing the Lens is a call to prioritize equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-oppression in a luxury industry that continues to uphold oppressive systems. We believe that this work has to be done collectively, as a community, and it is great to see so much interest.” They have had quite the success in their first 3 events and have “exciting plans to continue cultivating space for this work in the local "Ontario" wedding industry” Amber says. “As we go along, more vendors with knowledge & lived experiences want to share their perspectives and so Changing the Lens continues to grow which is very exciting”.

We dug into some deep questions with Amber and Theresa about the wedding industry and the LGBTQ+ community. We asked what they saw as challenges that the 2SLGBTQ+ couples face

while planning their wedding. Amber says: There is the obvious challenge of being rejected by vendors who refuse to work with them. A harm so common and so deep that a lot of couples will ask vendors if they are inclusive before inquiring about their service or product. [Unfortunately], it is assumed that they are not inclusive until proven otherwise and this is a repeated reminder of the fact that this world still does not fully embrace who they are or their love. It puts a dark cloud over the planning process which we know can be incredibly stressful even outside of these additional layers. On top of that, even vendors who say they welcome 2SLGBTQ+ couples, aren't always conscious of other ways they are excluding these folks over and over. Like saying bride & groom in their marketing, using outdated terminology like "bridal suite" rather than wedding suite, having heterosexual folks’ model as a queer couple, not asking pronouns and assuming gender. Even using terms like "same sex couples" is not always inclusive of the various gender identities and experiences of couples in this community. The list is unending because this is a complex, deeply rooted bias that is not as simple as stating you accept us. The biggest challenge is that a lot of wedding vendors don't actually do the work. Theresa says: Most vendors only focus on 2SLGBTQ+ couples when it is trending. Time and time again we see vendors posting about inclusive practices only when a bigger vendor has been thrown under the bus for their malpractices. This is usually when we see a heightened interest in vendors wanting to show that they are inclusive and that is also when we see these vendors then reaching out to queer vendors for collaborations. This is their way of also trying to show that they are inclusive but really, they are using queer identified vendors to further their clout and mislead 2SLGBTQ+ couples through images of inclusivity.

Do you have advice on how couples can find 2SLGBTQ+ friendly vendors? I wish we could give some concrete indicators, but even well-intentioned vendors can miss the mark and unintentionally cause harm. Look for vendors who are vocal on their social media about what matters to them. Look for portfolio content that makes you feel celebrated. Seek out vendors who identify with the same communities you do. Ask around, word of mouth is everything. Create a little questionnaire to send off to prospective vendors to see if they meet your criteria. You are hiring them. So, they need your approval, not the other way around!

Do you have any other tips for our couples? Don't settle for less than you deserve. You might have to advocate for yourself in the process. Don't be afraid to ask for help from your community, or from vendors that you trust to direct you.

Is there anything you feel is important for our readers to know about the 2SLGBTQ+ community and wedding planning? It is incredibly important to educate yourself as a vendor so that you can best serve your clients. There are so many free resources out there or even better, you can invest in a workshop like Changing the Lens. Imagine having to educate someone that you're paying to provide a service for you? Don't put the onus on your paying customers to do that work for you. Let them celebrate their love and feel supported in the process. Connect with us @ctl.collective for upcoming opportunities!

Changes have certainly progressed in the Canada starting with Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau’s amendment to the criminal code in 1967 which decriminalized homosexuality and same-sex marriage legalized in Ontario June 10, 2003. That being said, we understand that there is still a lot of room for improvement on inclusivity. We asked Amber and Theresa how they would like to see the wedding industry shift to be more inclusive. Amber says, “I would like to see wedding industry vendors prioritize the communities that they're saying they want to include. Stop making it about you and your business. Everyone is out there trying to get diverse content right now so that they can show that they are inclusive. That's great, but this doesn't prove anything when you aren't showing up for these folks.” Amber calls on vendors to be part of the community and join the movement and not just have it be about profit and a social media image. Amber states that they see some “vendors say that they don't like to bring politics into their business, but whether you like it or not our identities are political. All relationships and transactions are political. Owning a business is political. Having a job is political. Existing in this system is political. Choosing not to say anything and not showing up is political too, and we see you”. Theresa says, “I would like to see more vendors be authentic and real. I feel as though a number of vendors are really just in this industry for the cash grab and I'm not here to knock anyone's hustle but what these vendors do not understand is the huge impact they have on people's lives. As a queer, Black wedding vendor myself I have seen first-hand the harm that has been perpetrated on these marginalized groups and through my own lived experiences too. Many vendors are not willing to listen to what is actually happening in our industry and are trying to fix a problem that they have zero education or knowledge on”. She wishes “that more wedding vendors would actually do the work of listening and let marginalized communities tell them what they are doing wrong and how to be better allies. We are the ones who are the most knowledgeable in our comfort, so let us do the talking”. A little about Amber: My name is Amber Farrington and my pronouns are she/they. I'm a moody wedding & lifestyle photographer @honeyandlux I'm a white settler, queer, genderqueer, disabled, fat babe that celebrates love in all its forms. With celebration comes advocacy, and I will always be ruffling feathers to make my position clear & to amplify the work, voices and art of those that experience manufactured marginalization. It is important to me that the couples & families that I work with know that I will show all the way up for them. A little about Theresa: My name is Theresa Campbell and my pronouns are she/her. I'm a makeup and hair artist that specializes in glossy lips, glowin' skin & bomb a** brows @autumnartistrymakeupandhair. I'm a black queer woman who celebrates and supports others journeys to self-love. As a former domestic violence and youth counsellor I have seen first-hand how so many individuals have lost their self-love through trauma. The self-love experience is such a healing practice and through the hair and makeup practices I help to encourage self-discovery in a safe and inclusive way. Photography and Host Honey & Lux www.HoneyAndLux.com @honeyandlux Styling & Production Riley & Dallas www.RileyAndDallas.com @rileyanddallas Venue Burning Kiln Winery www.BurningKilnWinery.ca @burningkilnwine

Wardrobe Tolo Clothier www.ToloClothier.com @toloclothier Mettamade www.MettamadeInHamilton.ca @mettamadehamont Hair Stylist Soraya Garcia www.SorayaForHair.com @hairbysoraya

Makeup Artist www.MakeupByElisha.com @makeup.by.elisha Stationery Red Bicycle Paper Co. www.RedBicyclePaperCo.com @redbicyclepaperco Tablescape Table Love Décor @tablelovedecor

Florals Gather Floral & Event www.GatherFloral.ca @gather.floral.events Rings Sfara Designs @sfaradesigns

Little Mushroom Catering Despite the pandemic, there's still a number of ways food can be served safely without sacrificing flavour or creativity. If you're planning a wedding that is serviced: -We suggest that servers circulate pre-made signature cocktails for guests to be able to sip on following the ceremony, as opposed to waiting. Little Mushroom will ensure there are some non-alcoholic options for those who don't drink alcohol, are driving, or for all of those who are under-aged. - In lieu of a server circulating passed hors d'oeuvres, we recommend a plated style of service, where individual plates of food are served to each guest. To discourage mingling without masks, Little Mushroom can deliver food directly to tables to encourage guests to remain seated while they're eating. - Little Mushroom can get creative and build family style sharing platters for each of the tables. This option is best if your guests are seated within their social bubbles. Some popular options are charcuteries boards with local cheeses, cured meats, in-house pickled vegetables, and an assortment of bread & spreads.

Connect with Little Mushroom Catering www.LittleMushroomCatering.ca @littlemushroomcatering

Take-out options have been popular throughout the pandemic. Little Mushroom has encouraged all of their couples to give each of its guests a little take home snack and or meal. This allows couples to be more inclusive to all of its guests that are perhaps only invited to the ceremony. Some popular takeaway options have been: - Fully prepared cold hors d'oeuvres boxes. We recommend cold options to avoid your guests from having to reheat and or having to build anything at home. They'll just be ready to pop in your mouth & enjoy. - Individual snack boxes (can be sweet, savoury or anything in between) - Individual treat boxes filled with bars & squares, mini donuts, cookies, and personalized sugar cookies. The key component to anything that is being served take-out style is the packaging. Feel free to speak to your caterer ahead of time and see if they are willing to place custom stickers and or napkins on the packaging to give it more of a personalized touch. About Little Mushroom Catering Little Mushroom Catering has been a leader in the Waterloo Region for just over a decade for their innovative and sustainable full-service event catering. Using fresh and locally farmed ingredients to make the best from-scratch food, they ensure that there is something delicious for everyone – including those with dietary restrictions and allergies. Little Mushroom Catering has two WPIC Certified Wedding Coordinators as a part of its team. Together they have executed over 600 weddings to date. As a company Little Mushroom encourages all of its clients to customize their menus to suit their tastes as well as their budgets. Typically, they are able to offer a number of different styles of services such as stations, cocktail receptions, BBQ, but in these times, they urge their clients to stick with a plated or cafeteria style of service.

The Ethereal & The Divine Amidst all the darkness that 2020 brought, a bride and her bridesmaids show us some light. A coldness hangs in the airas a ghost of a wedding season draws to a close. The chill is broken first by the light of a single candle and then kindled by a yearning for togetherness we all so desperately seek. When we feel lost and listless, we look to our closest friends to hold us up. As one, we can keep a glimmer of our dreams alive. Here’s to every bride who’s wedding dissolved into the ether.

Photography Afterglow Images www.AfterGlowImages.ca @afterglowimages Venue Maple Meadows Farm www.MapleMeadowsFarm.ca @maplemeadowsevents Decorator Joani Wedding Decor www.JoaniWeddingDecor.com @joaniweddingdecor Florist Floral Envy www.FloralEnvy.com @floral_envy

Dresses Vintage Finds by Emma Plant Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist Emma of Southcoast Beauty Co. @southcoastbeutyco Jewelry & Accessories Lemonade Designs www.LemonadeLifeDesigns.com @lemonadedesigns Baker Sweet Avenue Cakery www.SweetAvenueCakery.ca @sweetavenuecakery Models Bride @amandamarina Bridesmaids @moriahrobinson @autum.m.model

Cater Me Please If you are planning on partying with your wedding guests until 1am, it’s a great idea to serve some late-night snack foods around 10:30 or 11pm. This will help fuel your dancing friends and family to party all night long and will also help soak up some of the alcohol your guests are consuming. There are no hard and fast rules about what you can serve for late-night foods and the options are endless whether serving sweet, salty or both. We have collaborated with Cater Me Please of Burlington to provide you with a fun list of savory late-night food options! Mini Sliders Chances are, you have already supplied your guests with a full meal only hours earlier so the late-night food is not meant to duplicate this. That’s why these mini sliders are a perfect idea for a late-night snack as they are small but hearty and delicious. Fun Fact: Nearly 60% of all sandwiches sold worldwide are actually hamburgers! Hot Dogs or Sausages with Kettle Chips Mini Sliders aren’t the only BBQ style option that is popular as a late-night food option. Hot Dogs and Sausages with Kettle Chips are another great option! Display them plain and have condiments available for your guests to use. Fun Fact: Crewmembers of the Apollo 11 mission enjoyed hot dogs in space!

Connect with Cater Me Please www.CaterMePlease.ca @catermeplease

Poutine Late-night food options should be a little greasy to satisfy those latenight drunken munchies and what better than a Canadian favourite – the poutine! Gourmet fries topped with cheese curds and drizzled with gravy are a guaranteed crowd pleaser! Make sure you order enough because these go fast! Fun Fact: The poutine was invented in 1957 when Fernand Lachance, a trucker, added cheese curds to his fries in Warwick, Quebec. The word “Poutine is a Quebec slang for “a mess”. Assorted Pizza’s Pizza is the ultimate go-to party food and there are lots of way to dress it up for your wedding late-night food. A wood board or platter goes a long way when setting up a pizza bar and gives you ample space to provide assorted options to satisfy all of your guests! Fun Fact: The Hawaiian pizza was invented in Canada in 1962 by Sam Panopoulos. Sam was from Greece and running a pizzeria in Chatham, Ontario with his two brothers Elias and Nikitas. Chicken Skewers or Chicken Lettuce Bowls Looking for a little bit of a healthier option? Chicken skewers or Chicken Lettuce bowls are an excellent option if looking for something a little lighter for your late-night snack. Fun Fact: It is said that Christopher Columbus was the person who introduced lettuce to America during his second voyage to the New World in 1494. Many caterers offer customization of their menu items. If you have a specific idea for your late-night foods then you should have the conversation with your caterer to see if they can bring your vision to life! About Cater Me Please

Amanda Lee-Anne Photography

Cater Me Please is a multiple, award-winning catering company based out of Burlington but services most of southern Ontario. Experience not only the best in meal preparation, but the absolute best in customer service and satisfaction. Their staff is ready to serve you, no matter the request. They also cater to their customers who are in need of Vegan and Gluten-Free options. They make it their mission to ensure that every catered event, is absolutely above and beyond your expectations. They make sure that you enjoy top quality service by understanding that their best recommendation – is a satisfied customer.

Showcasing a beautiful garden themed Bridal Shower.

Photography Scarlet Lens Photography www.ScarletLensPhotography.ca @scarletlensphotography

Florist La Petite Fleur www.PetiteFleur.ca @lapetitefleurcnd

Stationery Red Bicycle Paper Co. www.RedBicyclePaperCo.com @redbicyclepaperco

Venue La Petite Chapelle @lapetitechapelleevents

Bridesmaid Dresses, Robes & Jammies By Catalfo www.ByCatalfo.com @bycatalfo

Catering Food Girl Gone Grazy @girlgonegrazy

Coordination Plan It Right Events www.PlanItRightEvents.ca @planitrightevents Decorator Tableau Scapes www.TableauScapes.com @tableauscapes

Hair Stylist Teased Bridal www.TeasedBridal.com @teasedbridal Makeup Artist Mood Beauty Bridal @moodbeautybridal

Linens Latkat Linens www.LatkatLinens.com @latkatlinens Balloon Artist Balloons Oxford Occasions www.OxfordOccasions.ca @oxfordoccasions Chairs Guelph Tents www.GuelphTentRental.com @guelphtents

Victoria Rendon of Victoria Rendon Beauty What to expect at your trial? Think of your trial as an extension of your wedding day services. During this time your bridal makeup artist and hairstylist will consult with you to help create the vision you have for your wedding day.

How should I prepare? Before your trial, we always recommend browsing your artist website and portfolio. Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration and will help you hone in on your beauty vision. When selecting inspirational photos for hair and makeup, select images that reflect your hair colour, eye colour and facial features. We also recommend our clients to check out our website and visit our blog all about pre-wedding skin care at home. Creating a skincare routine well in advance will prepare your skin to look its best before your big day.

What should I bring? Be sure to bring your veil and hair accessories to your hair appointment, as well as any statement jewelry that might accompany your overall look. We also recommend speaking with us in advance if you think you may need to purchase hair extensions or add on false lashes or airbrush makeup. After your trial, plan to wear your look for at least 4 hours to see how it wears. We often recommend planning your trial the same day of your bridal shower or engagement shoot, so you can feel extra pampered for those special occasions too. If you're ready to get glowing on your wedding day, let's chat about how VR Beauty can help create a flawless beauty experience.

Connect with Victoria Rendon Beauty www.VictoriaRendonBeauty.com @vr.beauty

About Victoria Rendon Beauty At Victoria Rendon Beauty we love creating beautiful, radiant and timeless bridal looks. Our goal is to have our clients look and feel as the best version of themselves. Finding the right makeup artist and hairstylist who understands your vision is so important. Victoria Rendon, Owner and Lead Makeup Artist and her expert team of hairstylists can bring any bride's vision to life. We can accommodate any size bridal party and have many years of experience catering to all different ethnic backgrounds. We also welcome all same sex couples and the LGBTQ community. In our eyes all love should be celebrated. We offer mobile services

For this gorgeous shoot, planner Julaine of Events by Julaine, was inspired by the rich shades and textures of fall, which complimented the venue, Pine Valley Chalet and models perfectly. Touches of gold ensured a vintage yet elegant feel. Applied Elegance had the bride glowing flawlessly and the rustic boho feeling ensured that the various textures and hues were highlighted beautifully. The simple yet fabulous cupcakes and cake by Popsy Turvy Cakes added the right touch, continuing with the fall rustic theme. Let's Talk about florals! Buds and Blooms and Red Bicycle Paper Company helped bring the entire shoot together with the rich hues of burgundy in the centerpieces, bouquet and stationery. Fedora Media magically managed to capture all of this awesomeness and overall cozy feel of a Canadian fall.

Photography Fedora Media www.FedoraMedia.com @fedora_media Venue Pine Valley Chalet www.PineValleyChalet.com @pinevalleychalet Coordination and Decorator Events by Julaine www.EventsByJulaine.com @eventsbyjulaine

Baker Popsy Turvy Cakes @popsyturvycakes Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist Applied Elegance www.AppliedElegance.com @applied.elegance Stationery Red Bicycle Paper Co www.RedBicyclePaperCo.com @redbicyclepaperco

Florist Buds & Blooms @budsandbloomskw

Tips for choosing the right wedding planner for you: 1. Research. This is the time to make inquiries and find out more about each planner you might be interested in working with. Get a feel for their personality. You should feel at ease and confident that you have made the right choice. Remember, this is the person or company you will be trusting with your wedding details. 2. Decide if you are looking for full coordination or partial coordination. Keep in mind the price differences and the extent of the planner's involvement in the details of your wedding. Every planner will offer different services, packages etc. A planner that offers pre-priced packages as well as personalized packages can be an attractive option when you are someone who wants a very unique wedding with plenty of personalized touches. 3. Look for a planner that understands Covid-19 regulations etc. Planning a wedding is stressful enough. You need someone to help you navigate through it all! - Julaine from Events By Julaine

& Kelsey Knoop of Satin and Slate Weddings What is a Wedding Planner? A wedding planner takes care of everything from negotiation of contracts, vendor referrals and sourcing, all the way up to the day of your wedding. Planners take the “guess work” out of your wedding journey and makes a streamline and easy wedding experience. A planner keeps you on track for your budget and a good planner can end up saving you money in the end. A wedding planners duties usually consist of : -80-250 hours spend on your wedding/event -Creating detailed timelines and floorplans -Vendor referrals, negotiation of contract and meeting with vendors. -Determining and managing your budget -Attending site visits and meal tastings -Coordinating the guest portion of your wedding. -Managing your rehearsal -Overseeing your day of wedding needs. Be sure to hire a wedding planner if: -You’re hosting your wedding in an unusual space -You have a demanding job -You want the least amount of stress for your wedding day. -You have a very short timeframe for planning -You need someone in your corner to help make sure your needs are met and what you want. -If you have no clue where to start and you have no organizational skills.

Connect with Satin & Slate Weddings www.SatinandSlate.ca @satinandslateweddings

What are the differences between a Wedding Planner, Wedding Coordinator and a Wedding Designer? A wedding designer is purely ascetics. They have a talent to create a cohesive and stylish look. And the talent is beyond choosing a table linen and chair. The provide lighting solutions, floor plans and find those “niche” items they are looking for. A wedding designer usually requires 40 hours of work, provides a colour pallet and design concept, guidance and organization of décor. A wedding coordinator can put together a day of timeline, and uses their experience to best recommend changes and suggestions for your plan. Wedding coordinators usually put in 25 hours of work, meet with you 4-8 weeks before your wedding, reviews your contracts and details, checks in with your vendors, addressed any over looked details, and oversees your wedding day to ensure nothing strays from your original plan.

What services do you offer?

Photography JLP Studio www.JLPStudio.ca @jlpstudio_

Satin and Slate Weddings offers: -Day of Wedding Coordination -Partial wedding planning -Full Wedding Planning -Wedding Design with pricing quotes from décor and florists provided -Wedding packages for brides needing an easy wedding with everything included. This package is partnered with leading wedding professionals. We have teamed up with a few venues for 2021 to ensure every bride is able to have their ideal wedding experience and provide them with a number of wedding options at those locations.

What is your most popular service and why? My most popular wedding service booked is the Partial Planning Service. I feel this is because with COVID a lot of brides were really trying to navigate the legislation as well as plan their wedding and it simply became too stressful. This is where hiring a planner came in. They have someone else navigate the everchanging guild lines and ensure their vision is still met on the day of their wedding. A lot of brides enjoy the start of wedding planning but get closer to the big day and find it a head ache with everything else going on in their life. I highly recommend the Partial planning as this allows you in the last few months before your wedding to take a back seat and enjoy the ride. Between Wedding showers, Bachelorettes and Bachelor parties, and those last-minute DIY items, Its sometimes best to relax and enjoy these last few moments before the stress of the wedding day. Use this time to reach out and spend time with your partner, rather than sitting at the kitchen table deciding what photo shots you need between cocktail hour and reception.

Why do you recommend Brides hire a Wedding Planner or Coordinator? Wedding planning is a fun experience, But, sometimes a difficult one to navigate. A wedding planner has a number of weddings under her belt and can best tell you what works, what doesn’t, and how you can save money. They know tips and tricks to repurposing and saving money where it counts, and a planner can help you make those tough decisions. A wedding planner is a luxury for sure, while some people have wedding sand did not need one, it’s a benefit to those brides that do and save them so much headache. I know for myself, I ensure the bride is not contacted the day of, and all vendors go through myself. Everything is planned and taken care of so the wedding party can use the day to truly celebrate rather then worry if the name place cards got put out. Wedding planners and coordinators make you a guest at your own wedding and really ensures your guests as well as yourself are taken care of. With ensuring your fed and hydrated at all times, your dress puffed before the walk down the aisle, and all the small details are accounted for, Wedding planners really are that item that should top your list and save your time and money from the start of your wedding experience.

When is the best time to hire a Wedding Planner or Coordinator? For the best “Bang for your Buck” I recommend hiring a planner from the start. Planners can save you money and time with experience in the industry and being able to best help you achieve your goals. Wedding planners work with vendors in sometimes a weekly basis and can negotiate and ensure a good price for your products and services you receive. Where a client would only use them once for their wedding day, a planner uses a vendor a number of times in a season. Wedding planners save you not only money, but time. They know the industry and can give you a general idea on cost and where to look for your budget. Wedding planners have experience at a number of locations and can always provide input on what you should consider and what is not really needed at a specific location. Hiring a planner should be the first or second vendor you source.

Any helpful tips for our couples? Remember what your wedding means for the two of you. Your getting married to each other, not all your guests, and not your new mother-in-law. Do what is best for you and what you both want in your wedding day. Some of the best weddings have a lot of personal details involved and share moments that are captured and remembered for years to come. Remember that no one will be talking about whether you used velvet or satin table cloths or if you went with a white or coloured napkin. At the end of the day, you walk away with the memories you share together and your marriage. Tell us a little about yourself! Hey! I’m Kelsey from Satin and Slate Weddings. I am a wedding planner and designer based out of the KW region. I am the Owner and Head Wedding Planner at Satin and Slate Weddings. I’m a Dog Loving, Tree Hugging, Obnoxiously Happy, Burrito Devouring Lady. I love to create new and exciting designs and think outside the box. I can find other purposes for day today items, and love fitting in a budget! I am an avid DIY Project doer and enjoy refinishing products to suit a design idea. I pride myself on my minimalistic, elegant, and personal touches to a wedding day. I enjoy simplistic design and elegance with textures. We keep all your vendors in line and cross those T’s and dot those I’s with all of them. We have created a “play ground” environment for you and your partner to join us in styling and designing your union to best represent the two of you. We provide a visual, and tactile experience for you to see and play with all your design aspects and play with our artists. No more mailbox filled with your vendors, no more running around to appointments and wasting time and money. We take the stress off your shoulders and put it on a experienced wedding veteran. Let your wedding be a good experience and not one that causes you grief. Invest in yourself, and Invest in a Qualified and Proficient Wedding Team! You Deserve It!

For this gorgeous shoot, the decorator was going for an elegant palette of white, ivory and taupe with gold and green accents! If you have the chance to use velvet linens, DO!

Photography Tia Loryssa Photography www.TiaLoryssaPhotography.com @tialoryssaphotography

Planning and Coordination Plan it Right Events www.PlanItRightEvents.ca @planitrightevents

Suit Collins Formal Wear www.CollinsClothiers.com @collinsclothiers

Videography Beaufilms Productions www.Beaufilms.ca @beaufilmsvideo

Florist La Petite Fleur www.PetiteFleur.ca @lapetitefleurcdm

Hair Stylist Teased Bridal www.TeasedBridal.com @teasedbridal

Venue La Petite Chapelle @lepetitechapelleevents

Linens Latkat Linens www.LatkatLinens.com @latkatlinens

Makeup Artist Mood Beauty Bridal @moodbeautybridal

Decorator and Planning The RoseGold Grand Inc. www.theRGGinc.ca @theRGGinc

Dress Alterations by Bree McQueen @alterationsbybreemcqueen

Stationery Red Bicycle Paper Co. www.RedBicyclePaperCo.com @redbicyclepaperco.

Jewelry Sfara Designs @sfaradesigns Baker Fancy That Cake www.FancyThatCake.ca @fancythatcake Favours Bliss Dough www.BlissDough.com @blissdough

Wild Blue Yonder Fine handmade jewelry celebrating wood, the earth, and wild adventure. Wild Blue Yonder jewelry is created using reclaimed materials, unused lumber scraps, or fragments of wood, bark, and lichen found on hikes and travels through the forest. Little details, often unnoticed in nature, are readily on display in every piece. About Amber Aasman, Artist & Owner: I have always been a bit of a scavenger. On trips or hikes, even as a kid, I was always compelled to find something interesting to take home with me as a keepsake. There is something very special about an object you find while out in nature: It signifies a sense of adventure, specific memories, relationships, and a finite period of time. This impulse to collect led me to my early wood and resin experiments, which grew into my craft practice as it exists today. Since launching WBY in 2016, I have worked solely as an independent artisan/owner, and currently sell my work to approximately 25 galleries and shops across Canada and the USA, including the Art Gallery of Ontario and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Prices for earrings start at $25 and range up to $98 (for finer sterling silver or gold-filled pieces. Necklaces and rings start at $58+. Amber is also available for custom work - get in touch to ask about your own custom piece or set.

Connect with Wild Blue Yonder www.WildBlueWood.com @wildbluewood

Moh and Fatima

Photography Fedora Media www.FedoraMedia.com @fedora_media Venue Paradise Banquet Hall www.ParadiseBanquetHalls.com @paradisebanquethall Decorator Dream Wedding Ltd. @dream_wedding_ltd Makeup Artist Mariam Khawajaomary

The DJ Co. In a world where intimate weddings are more prevalent than ever, it’s important to keep the dynamic of your special day. We’re often asked if we’d consider performing at a backyard wedding, or for a smaller count of guests, absolutely! Your wedding, whether a small group or grand event, is a celebration and we’re there to create a memorable atmosphere through music. Everything from the timing of those perfect songs while you walk down the aisle, to dinner ambiance and setting the musical tone early for a lively reception, The DJ Co. is ready. Our focus on the fine points is what differs a good celebration from a fantastic one. What sets The DJ Co. aside from other DJ’s is the desire to ensure a stress-free experience for our couples; doing everything within our power to help create your dream day. Following our first consultation, we leave our clients excited and confident to reserve a date with The DJ Co. With several referrals from previous clients, we’ve become the preferred vendor at many venues and are familiar with the motions and layouts of each space. Our past success only fuels the quality of our craft to continue performing at a top level. The team we have grown into is well formed ensuring each DJ brings their own flavour to add versatility to our company. Years of experience and persistence have led us to our positive reputation within the wedding industry. We are always motivated to raise the bar and surpass expectations.

Connect with The DJ Co. www.theDJco.ca @hellothedjco

A key component is understanding the privilege of playing a pivotal role in our couple’s new life milestone. We curate each wedding soundtrack with an ‘on the fly’ approach for your guests to enjoy; along with blending in your personality and style. Nothing brings our team to cloud nine more than seeing your loved ones doing the robot on the dance floor. We look forward to meeting, chatting about and creating the perfect ensemble for your special day.

Dreams Are Just Peachy This celebration of love is set at Dundurn Castle, the historic neoclassical mansion in Hamilton, Ontario. The precious smiles of the stunning bride and groom show us how heartfelt these moments are. Classic hair-do that compliments the white delicate tulle of the wedding gown creates an elegant look with a modern twist. Adding pops of rose gold jewelry highlights the warm tones and completes the look. The gorgeous monochromatic peach palette in the floral bouquet adds beautiful contrast against the rustic castle doors. Wake up on this special day and smell the roses, your dream day awaits! Is the classical venue a key element to your fairytale? In this intimate shoot, some Hamilton vendors have teamed up to show you that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

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Photography Pamela Sambrano Photography www.PamelaSambranoPhotography.com @pamelasambranophotography

Dress Annette’s Bridal www.AnnettesBridalStore.com @annettes_bridal

Venue Dundurn Castle @dundurn_castle

Jewelry Sfara Designs @sfaradesigns

Coordinator and Lashes Luv Lashes Online www.LuvLashesOnline.com @luvlashesonline

Hair Stylist Doll Up www.Dollup-MobileHairandMakeup.com @dollupwithme

Florals Gather Floral & Events www.GatherFloral.ca @gather.floral.events

Makeup Artist Central Beauty Bar www.CentralBeautyBar.ca @centralbeauty.bar

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Must Haves for Your Wedding Day ✓ Brush and Comb ✓ Blotting Papers ✓ Deodorant and Baby Powder ✓ Eye Drops ✓ Face Mist ✓ Floss ✓ Hair Spray ✓ Handkerchief and Travel Size Kleenex ✓ Hand Cream ✓ Lip Balm ✓ Make up (the same items that were used to create the bride’s look) and Make up Remover

✓ White Chalk (if something is spilled on the wedding dress and won’t wash out, you can usually cover it with white chalk) ✓ Toothbrush and Tooth Paste ✓ Tweezers ✓ Bobby Pins and Hair Elastics ✓ Earring Backs ✓ Advil and Allery Medication ✓ Tums ✓ Band aids and Blister Treatment ✓ Energy Bar or Granola Bar ✓ Mini First Aid Kit

✓ Compact Mirror

✓ Water Bottle

✓ Mints and Mouth Wash

✓ Fashion Tape

✓ Nail File, the brides nail colour and Clear Nail Polish

✓ Flats and or Flip Flops

✓ Perfume ✓ Sunscreen and Bug Spray ✓ Q-Tips ✓ Tampons or Pads ✓Razor (someone in the bridal party may have missed a spot and can also be used to remove pilling on clothing) ✓ Tide-to-Go

✓ Lint Roller ✓ Mini Sewing Kit and Safety Pins ✓ Super Glue ✓ Static Guard ✓ Cash ✓ Lighter ✓ Phone Charger ✓ Hand Sanitizer or Antibacterial Wipes

Details - Bridal Magazine, June 2021 Issue #1

Articles inside

Handmade Jewelry with Wild Blue Yonder

Q & A with Wedding Panner, Kelsey Knoop

Hair & Make Up Trial Tips with VR Beauty

Late Night Food Ideas, Cater Me Please

Q & A with Alycia, The Wedding Lawyer

Talking Florals with Beaux Florals

Appetizer Ideas, Little Mushroom Catering

Q & A with Florist, Floral Frenzy

Sourcing Vintage Bottles

Everything To Know About Stationery

Ceremony Floral Tips with BBBlooms

Q & A with ON Wedding Venues – PG 10

Finding the Perfect Suit, Collins Clothiers

Q & A with Rebecca Chan

Custom Jewelry with Sfara Designs

Wedding Planning Timeline Checklist