Wedding: Five things I wish I knew before I went dress shopping

Dress shopping wasn't the disaster I thought it would be. I'm short, got boobs and a small waist. I expected fitting room breakdowns but it never got to that. I had to write this post because no one ever talks about the dress experience. It's definitely something that needs to be addressed. Here are a few tips that I wish I knew before I went shopping.

DO not let anybody tell you what you can or can not wear.
I went into a retailer to talk about the process of booking an appointment and on the spot she judged me. I was wearing an oversized sweater and a puffy parka. Her words were "You're a ballgown girl. Nothing else in here would be flattering on you. Don't look over there". Immediately my confidence was shattered. There is nothing wrong with ballgowns-they're gorgeous but why put me into a bubble before I even try anything on. It doesn't matter if you're 100 pounds or 300 pounds- TRY ON WHAT YOU LIKE! You make the decision what works for you.

Four tips every Bride needs to hear before they get Married

I just hit the two year mark a few weeks ago. Man.. let me tell you that time goes by fast! But flashback to 27 months ago.... the planning part was very interesting! Between the feelings and unsolicited opinions. You have to stand your ground. Here are four pieces of advice that I can give to you to make the best out of your big day!

What do I do with my Wedding Guests?

I actually got an email from a reader (Hi Cindy!) regarding a wedding situation. I thought it would be perfect to share on here because you never know what someone else is going through. 

Her Question-

I'm getting married in April and I'm unsure what to do. The ceremony and venue is far. It's Hamilton. I'm not from there and none of my fam is from there. I have a gap in the middle where I take pictures and do an outfit change. Do I book a few hotel room for a every to stay in? I have no idea what to do.

When I got married, I was in the same position.. kind of. And I had to learn this on my own to let your guests think for themselves. As a bride, it's so easy to get wrapped up in so many different situations. I'm the type of person that honestly does not want to inconvenience anyone and I will look for ideas to make other people happy.... Which usually end up  with me sacrificing my time or things blowing up in my face.

Wedding: Inspiration from Wedluxe

Back in January, I went to the WedLuxe Wedding show.
This was my 3rd time going!

The first time as a married woman. It was totally a different perspective. My time as a bride was amazing...but I don't think I milked it to it's full potential but now it's my time to guide brides into the "light", help them make the best choices and show off awesome ideas.

Wedding: Five questions to ask your florist before you book

Getting married is a serious task. Some brides do it all themselves while others call in help. There is no wrong way to plan a wedding. But there are a few questions that you have to ask yourself. Trust me... I wish I had asked some of these before.

Wedding - Quick and Easy Seating Plans- Top Table Planner

So I'm in the process of finalizing my guest list.

This has been the MOST nerve wrecking process ever.

Who to invite, who not to invite...

One of the biggest things to consider is personalities.

Especially when creating your seating plans.

You need an easy, clear and concise way to do it.

I found the perfect online software to help!

It's called Top Table Planner.

Weddingbells Celebrates 30 Years!

I had the opportunity to attend the Weddingbells 30 years anniversary event. I love Weddingbells! They were one of the first magazines to get in contact with me, when I got engaged. They are the "go-to source" for Canadian brides. The lovely event was at the Design Exchange in Toronto. 

Alison McGill, Editor-in-Chief of Weddingbells stated that the anniversary would be eventful-

"From live performances and innovative décor concepts, to an on-trend party menu of cocktail foods, an epic candy table and a very special wedding cake; this will definitely be a celebration to remember.”

The Wedluxe Wedding Show 2015

Out of all the Wedding shows that I've been to, The Wedluxe Wedding Show is the most glamorous and inspirational. It was also the very first show that attended in 2014.
Check out my "The Wedluxe Wedding Show 2014" post.

The event took place at the ARCADIAN- 401 Bay Street, 8th floor. Vendors were spread out in the Arcadian Loft, Arcadian Court, Arcadian Studio and the Mezzanine. Think that's a lot of space? The event was also located on the 7th floor of Hudson’s Bay! Definitely a place to get familiar with! It's where Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay and Hudson’s Bay Gift Registry is.

Wedding: Bridal Shower Advice from Weddingbells’ Editor-in-Chief Alison McGill

After a lot of convincing from my future sister-in-law, I decided that I should put having a bridal shower on my list of wants. Let me start off by saying... I've never been to a bridal shower before. On top of that, I have no idea how the whole goes. Sooo when you don't know anything about the topic.. You speak to an expert!

I got Weddingbells Editor-in-Chief Alison McGill to answer those questions
that you may have about bridal showers.

Editor-in-Chief Alison McGill tackles my bridal shower questions

Let's talk: Wedding Invitations- Part #2

My invites are here!

I know that it's suggested to send them out three to four months before.

We opted for something much earlier because we have a small list.

After getting all the information I needed, I decided to go forward with ordering on elegantweddinginvites.com.

Let's talk: Wedding Invitations- Part #1

Let me start off by saying wedding planning is not as easy as it seems. 

Time really flies by quickly. My advice is start early and get help.

I do have a church, venue and food planned but everything else has not been determined yet. 

I did send out my Save the dates (in August) but now it's time to pick my invites. 

Did you know that some invites can cost you $600+? 

Personalized Bridesmaids Gifts?

I was trying to think of the perfect bridesmaids gifts to give out and was stumped.  I really wanted to give the girls something that they would cherish as an appreciation of them putting up with me. That's when an idea of personalized jewellery came to my attend via an email. 

*Light bulb* It's unique and personal.

Wedding: Are bridal shows worth it?

This is a good question that plagues every bride: 

Are wedding shows worth it?

I feel like a wedding show veteran right now. I've been engaged for over a year and I have attended four shows. Overall- they're worth it.

Wedding: Cute Custom Bridal Illustrations

After the wedding, it's good to have items to remind you of your special day.....like photographs, cards or those pictures that I know you spent a pretty penny on. But it doesn't stop there! 

How about a custom illustration of your dress?

 I was contacted by Joanna pop a few months ago and she offered to do an illustration for my blog. 

I choose to get a wedding illustration that I could frame and put up in my new office.

I was not obligated to post/share share it but she did such an nice job!

***I put a filter on it and added a watermark***

These images can also be used for your invitations, save the date cards or stationary.

If you're interested, this is a service that she offers on her etsy page: etsy.com/shop/joannapop.  Clearly i'm not married yet but I sent her an image of a dress that I thought was cute and described what I wanted my fiancé suit to be. She was very professional and extremely quick I couldn't believe how fast I got my illustration in the mail.

If you are looking for a cute way to decorate your office, show off your dress or spruce up your blog, you should check her out!

Wedding: The Ins and Outs of Wedding Guest Lists Advice from Weddingbells’ Editor-in-Chief Alison McGill

Let's back track a bit. Last time I interviewed Weddingbells’ Editor-in-Chief Alison McGill the topic was wedding dress shopping. Today's topic is something that ALL brides dread.. The wedding guest list. This is the one part that has caused me so many headaches! I'm trying to keep my wedding small but all these people are popping up out of nowhere! Trying to accommodate everyone- plus listening to your parents requests is stressful. Hope this helps someone out there! 

Editor-in-Chief Alison McGill tackles my wedding guest list questions

How do you pick who comes to your wedding?
On your wedding day you want to be surrounded by those nearest and dearest to you (both family and friends). Whether you invite all of them will depend of course on your wedding budget and the size of the guest list you can accommodate. If your wedding is super-small and intimate, you may be challenged to narrow down exactly whom you invite. There are no hard and fast rules on who must be there—invite the people who mean the most in your life, who are extra-special. Wedding invites are a delicate subject and often come with their fair share of drama. It’s always good to be prepared for backlash because it happens. Often.

Are plus ones necessary?
Plus ones are not necessary but it’s often expected. Your guest will expect to invite a guest to accompany them to the wedding. If you are not extending the invitation to a plus one, be sure that is clearly indicated on your guest’s invitation. You may hear from the guest asking to confirm that a plus one is not invited. Taking it one step further, your guest may write in the name of their plus one even though you have indicated the invitation is for them alone. Once again be prepared to deal with this situation as you may have a disgruntled wedding guest on your hands.

How early in advance should you send out your invites?
Wedding invitations should be sent out no later than three months in advance of your wedding day. Better yet, it’s always appreciated by your guests if you send a save the date far in advance of your wedding day. People love advance notice on events and you want to be sure they clear their calendar for your wedding day.

What should be in the invite? (Response cards, for example)
Your invitation package includes the actual wedding invite and an RSVP card (or an email address/website where guests can respond). Including a map of the ceremony and reception location is also a great idea.

RSVPS: Mailing them back vs. email corresponding?
Either way is acceptable. It all depends on what the couple is asking for. If there is an RSVP card enclosed, fill out and send back. If there is an email, then send your reply electronically.

Wedding: Dress Advice from Weddingbells’ Editor-in-Chief Alison McGill

Time is going by so quickly. One of the items on my list in the distant future is the dress. I'm actually the oldest in my family and the first to get married- so the whole process is a new one. 

I'm extremely lucky to give this exclusive advice from Weddingbells’ Editor-in-Chief Alison McGill!

When is it the best time to look for your dress? One year before? Six months?
The sooner you can start shopping for your dress the better. Some dresses can take up to six months to manufacture and deliver so that’s why the more time you allow the better.

Where should you get dress inspiration from?
There are so many places to find dress inspiration. You can definitely find it with Weddingbells, both in our magazine pages and online where we post extensive galleries of the newest designer collections from New York and London (Spring 2015 collections were posted earlier this month). Pinterest of course is also an endless source of inspiration for all things weddings. Read fashion magazines, and I also recommend looking to the red carpet to see what celebrities are wearing—it is one of our main sources of inspiration at Weddingbells!

Who should you bring along when you go dress shopping? (Who shouldn’t you bring?)
When you are bridal dress shopping, keep the crowd to a minimum. I advise bringing only one or two people with you—and as for who you invite, that’s completely up to you. It should be people you are comfortable with, whose opinion you value and who will make the day a fun one for you. That might be your mom, sister, best friend...it may even be your fiancé. Most women still want the dress to be a surprise for the groom on their wedding day but we are seeing some brides who do take their mister-to-be along for dress shopping.

When going dress shopping what are three helpful tips to keep you organized?
1. Go in with an open mind. The dress style you may think you will never wear might turn out to be the one.
2. Before you go dress shopping, be sure to be fit and measured for proper undergarments! I can’t stress this point enough. It is totally going to impact how things fit and what looks good on you.
3. Don’t overschedule your shopping. You may think booking a ton of appointments in one day to visit bridal boutiques would be an efficient way to shop and see lots of options, but it will lead to wedding dress overload! Pace yourself and book no more than three appointments in one day.

My first Bridal Show experience: The Wedluxe Wedding Show

I survived my first wedding show. 

Let me rephrase that... my fiancé and I survived our first wedding show. 

We attended the luxurious Wedluxe show in Toronto!

Over 120 exhibitors to see and meet.

There were various vendors there such as florist, event planners, cake designers, 

make up artists, venues and much more.

As you entered the venue, you were given a tote bag to put all the 

goodies and pamphlets in that you got from the show.

If you were looking for hair inspiration, Moroccanoil had this great set up which allowed you to get your hair done by Moroccanoil stylist. You also had the opportunity to check out their new bath products.

I should also add there was a complementary shopping area. The line was so long. 

Free shopping, yes please!

One of the biggest things I took from the show was inspiration. I seen some of the most gorgeous floral arrangements I've ever seen in my life, stunning wedding invites and unique shots from a few photographers.

My one tip for someone who is looking to land a vendor from the event:

Create a list and divide it into what you're looking for.

I received a lot of cards and saw a lot of people but honestly I can't remember who is who.

If you get a card make a little note about something you liked at their booth. 

Trust me it will help you with uour memory.

Wedding: The Guest List + Tips

Remember it's your day! Do what you want.

This is a motto that I need to get tattooed on my arm for the next 18 months.

I will admit. There hasn't been much of an update since my last post (wedding wise).

We know that gift we want to give our guests! Haha.

Speaking of guests... One thing that is haunting me is the list. Those final numbers are critical.

One of the first things we did, once we got engaged was start our guest list.

I have collected some good advice in the past few months. 

I thought it would be a good idea to share with someone who may have the same questions.

Kids or no Kids?
We chose to go with no kids.
My (future) sister-law had kids at her wedding a few cried the whole reception.
Which was heard on her wedding video during the speeches.
If you have extra money- rent another room just for the kids.
Don't forget entertainment for them as well.

John who???
I will not have this problem on my side but in-laws adding everyone YOU DON'T KNOW to your list.
Pass! That's more money coming from your pockets.

Single friends + 1
This is one that can be debated for hours.
Think about it.. Say you invited someone you met in one of your college courses and she doesn't know anyone at the wedding. I think she deserves a plus one.
What if five friends from high school are invited. Do you give them all a +1 or assure them that they're all at the same table. Hmmmm...

We haven't yet gotten into seating arrangements yet but those are some tips to help you get started.

REMEMBER: 

Remember it's your day! Do what you want.

Destination Wedding or Not?

Most people who get engaged in 2013, are probably going to get married in 2014. Not me! I'm one of the few who is going to opt for some time in the middle of 2015. Why? I just want some time to get dress ready and take some courses to further my career. My fiancé is totally okay with that.

My favourite shot from Jamaica.

Question on my mind is destination wedding 

or not?

On my wedding day, I personally don't see myself on a beach. 

After looking at the costs of getting married locally it's definitely a SLIGHT possibility.

Let me lay out the pros/cons:

Pros of destination

• When you book a week at the resort the ceremony is usually free
• People who decide to come- get a group rate which is much cheaper
• Combo of a wedding/honeymoon in one
• Wedding will be small and intimate
• You save a lot of money

Cons

• A lot of people won't come
• I feel like I'll sweat too much ( I know.. don't ask)
• What if I forget something really important!! You can't get someone to get it when you're on a Island!!
• What if I get sick?
• I'm a control freak- I can't control the planning when everything is going on so far away. 

All of these are valid points. 

I have no idea what to decide but I hopefully will have an answer by the end of December.

What do you guys think? 

Destination Wedding or Not?

Braided Bridal Options from Moroccanoil

One of my bridal blunders at the moment is will my hair be up or down? I love the elegance of an up-do but down is so bouncy and fun!

Decisions! Decisions! I recently came across this email showcasing bridal hair design by Antonio Corral Calero, Moroccanoil® Artistic Director for the Monique Lhuillier Fall 2014 Bridal Collection.

Antonio designed six different variations of braided looks: “The attention was on the matte texture of the hair and the intricate details of each braided bun, parted side or center, with minimal volume on top.”

Products used:

Moroccanoil® Treatment (MSRP: $43.00 / 100ml)

Moroccanoil® Root Boost (MSRP $29.00 / 250ml)

Moroccanoil® Boar Bristle Classic Brush (MSRP: $72.00)

Moroccanoil® Molding Cream (MSRP: $28.00 / 3.4 fl. oz.)

Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray Medium locks (MSRP: $22.20 / 330ml)

First Look

• “To begin, I combed all the hair towards the back of the head 
• “I then created three large parts: right, left and back.” 
• “Each of the three parts became a braid. The right and left sides were inward French braids and the back braid between them was a standard braid, which would serve as the base for the chignon.”
• “I pulled the left and right braids around the back of the head and then wrapped them several times around the back braid.They wrapped about halfway down the back braid.” 
• “I pinned the bottom part of the braid inwards, towards the nape, and created the chignon.” 
• “To give the chignon a more romantic and uneven look, I gently pulled and opened elements of each braid slightly within the chignon.”

Second Look

• "First, I parted the hair to the side."
• "Next, I divided the hair into three parts: right, left and back"
• "Each of the three parts became a braid. The right and left sides were inward French braids and the back braid between them was a standard braid, which would serve as the base for the chignon."
• "I pulled the left and right braids around the back of the head and then wrapped them several times around the back braid. They wrapped about halfway down the back braid."
• "I pinned the bottom part of the braid inwards, towards the nape, and created the chignon."
• "To give the chignon a more romantic and uneven look, I gently pulled and opened elements of each braid slightly within the chignon."

Third Look

• "For this look, I combed all of the model’s hair towards the back and used Moroccanoil® Luminous Hair Spray Medium to help control and eliminate fly-aways close to her face. Moroccanoil® Luminous Hair Spray Medium is the perfect tool for this look: it gives the right amount of hold to keep
• the hair in place, and leaves it looking beautiful with natural shine."
• "Next, I divided the hair into three parts: right, left and back. "
• "Each of the three parts became a braid. All were standard braids, which would serve as the base for the chignon. 
• "I crossed the right braid with the left towards the back of her head, and clipped it into place." 
• "Then, I took the back braid and twisted it towards the outside, rolling it towards the crown. I used clips on all three braids at the bottom of the chignon, to hide the ends. 
• "As a final step, to give the chignon a less tight, more romantic and slightly uneven look, I gently pulled and opened elements of each braid slightly within the chignon."

Fourth Look

• "For the fourth look, I combed all the hair towards the back of the head and used Moroccanoil® Luminous Hair Spray Medium to help control and eliminate fly-aways close to her face."
• "Next, I divided the hair into three parts: right, left and back."
• "Each of the three parts became a braid. The right and left were lace braids. The back (middle) braid was a standard braid, which would serve as the base for the chignon."
• "I pulled the left and right braids around the back of the head and then wrapped them several times around the back braid. They wrapped about halfway down the back braid."
• "I pinned the bottom part of the braid inwards, towards the nape, and created the chignon."
• "To give the chignon a less tight, more romantic and slightly uneven look, I gently pulled and opened elements of each braid slightly within the chignon."

Fifth Look

• "I began by parting the model’s hair to the side." 
• "Then, I divided her hair into three parts: right, left and back." 
• "I created two braids: one on the right and another on the left. One was a regular braid, and the other a French braid. 
• "The back (middle) part was turned into a ponytail, which I back-combed slightly."
• "The right braid was crossed with the left, towards the back in a circular motion around the back braid until mid-ponytail. "
• "Next, I pinned the bottom part of the braid inwards, towards the nape to create the chignon."
• "As a final step, to give the chignon a less tight, more romantic look, I gently pulled and opened elements of each braid within the chignon."

Sixth Look

• "To create the final look I began by combing all of the model’s hair towards the back of her head. I used Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray Medium to control any fly-aways close to her face."
• "Next, I divided her hair into three parts: right, left and back."
• "The right and left parts were turned into feather braids. The back(middle) part was turned into a slightly back-combed ponytail."
• "I then crossed the right braid with the left towards the back of the head, circling the back part until mid-ponytail."
• "Next, the bottom part of the braid and ponytail were pinned inwards towards the nape to create the chignon." 
• "As a final step, to give the chignon a less tight, more romantic look, I gently pulled and opened elements of each braid within the chignon.

What do you think about having a braided do for your wedding?