Ready, Set, Charger Plates!

Bubble Charger Plates (http://www.jafgifts.com/BUBBLE-CHARGER-PLATES_106522.html)

Words cannot describe my love for a good table arrangement at a wedding. As simple a task this may seem, it seriously takes some brain work. I usually like to think of a table in layers, and to me, like a cake, the more layers the better. Most venues throw in white or ivory linens, these are your standard white table cloths and napkins. I personally think even one additional linen or accessory can really add to the over look of the table, and therefore the overall feel of the entire space. Table runners, overlays, matching napkins and napkin rings all fall under this category. Charger plates are a whole category on their own.

Lime Green Charger Plates (http://beautifulblooms.com/blog/2010/04/davids-bar-mitzvah-part-2/)

The first time I really noticed charger plates was on "Wedded To Perfection", where Jung Lee used eyeball charger plates, I died! Wow, I thought it was just the coolest thing I had ever seen. Unfortunately I have searched the net far and wide for a picture of these, to no avail. I will keep trying.

Gold Charger Plates to compliment a Mardi Gras Theme (http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/2009/02/tablescape-thursdayora-mardi-gras.html)

Charger plates are generally placed at the table before guests arrive and meant to have china placed on top of them when the meal comes, almost like a place mat. They are typically not meant to be eaten of of, nor put in the dishwasher. They are considered more of a decor item than dishware.

A gorgeous glowing creation by Jun Lee of New York based event company, Fête (http://feteny.com/services/)

Charger plates, as beautiful as they are, will cost you a pretty penny if you're not much for shopping. Some wedding forums have discussions of women buying them in packages at Target, Superstore or Michael's. These will be acrylic and not glass, ceramic or wood, but they will cost you far less than buying these more expensive one's or renting them. Most rental places charge you starting at $3.25 a plate - add that up and you will see how much that is. Purchasing your own set of 100+ ceramic, wood, glass or metal charger plates will be even more than that, upwards of $60 per plate! Yikes! So what am I saying? Even if you hate shopping around, shopping for charger plates is worth it. I found several sites that sell them in multitudes of colours and textures in bulk, 24 plates for under $50! Now we're talking. Do not underestimate the power of online shopping, it could save you literally thousands on your wedding!

By the masters of all things event - New York based company, Fête (http://feteny.com/services/)

Now all the grooms-to-be are grumbling that their bride now needs "just one more thing" for their wedding to make it picture perfect! Sorry guys...but not really.

Eek! My favorite - a Bird Nest Charger from Pottery Barn (http://www.potterybarn.com/?cm_type=gnav)

Boozy Bride

Photo credit: istockphoto

Don't. Be. A. Boozy. Bride. I know, I know, people who know me and are reading this will be thinking "well, isn't that strange advice for Brittany of all people to be giving", referencing my close relationship with red wine, tequila and vanilla vodka, but that's at OTHER people's weddings, not my own you sillies. Bottom line, this is one of the most magical days of your life and you will want to remember the special speeches people say to you, visiting with relatives you haven't seen in ten years and the sweet nothings your new husband whispers in your ear during dinner. Being completely inebriated at your own wedding is something that you cannot take back. Please know the difference between tipsy and hideously drunk.

I was at a wedding a few weekends ago, talking to the DJ and he was telling me about a bride who he DJ'd for the weekend before and she was so utterly intoxicated she was sick all over herself and had to be loaded into the back of pick up truck to be escorted home. Can you imagine leaving your wedding like that? Livestock was the one word that came to mind, ha ha...

But seriously, enjoy yourself, have some bubbly, a splash of wine but please oh please, do not be a Boozy Bride.

Dress Rehearsal

{photo credit: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress/}

As much as people say cliché things like “it’s not about the wedding, it’s about the marriage” et al, really, if you have chosen to have a wedding, white dress, cake and music, the dress actually is one of the centerpieces of the big day. There are a few big things to keep in mind when wedding dress shopping.

{photo credit: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress/}

I PVR literally every episode of Say Yes to The Dress, whether they are reruns or not, as I just adore the team that works at Kleinfeld’s, they are truly masters in the business. I have learned a lot about dresses, designers, price tags, people and their bargaining ways, alterations and the do’s and don’ts at bridal salons and just some basic etiquette.

{photo credit: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress/}

Tip one – don’t expect your perfect dress to be off the rack. Plan for it to require ordering, this can take 6 months, and it does vary by store, then alterations and fittings once the dress arrives. If you wait until the last minute you will be charged for rush ordering.

Tip two – NEVER buy a dress that is way too small in hopes of losing weight. Unless you know a tried and true way to shed those pounds this is too risky and taking a dress in is less expensive and less destructive to the design of the dress than letting a dress out if you do not lose the weight. I was appalled recently at a bridal store here in town telling one of my brides to get the smaller size as she’ll lose the weight. No one knows this for sure and I thought of it as a very unprofessional suggestion. Also, pay no attention the numbered size on the dress – if you look and feel spectacular in the dress then that is the one – don’t fuss over whether it is a larger or smaller size than what you normally wear.

Tip three – I usually tell a bride to know the vision, theme and hopefully the venue to make sure the dress fits this overall theme. A ball-gown dress doesn’t really suit a wedding in a rustic barn.

Tip four - Have some kind of idea what you would like to look at. Neckline, hemline, colour, fabric, intricate or traditional, give something for the consultant to go on or you will be trying on the dresses all day, and they are a LOT of work to get in and out of.

Tip five - Never go into a bridal salon after the gym, after a night on the town, or when you are recovering for the flu. Try and look decent for this big occasion, maybe do your hair nice, put on some make-up and bring a pair of shoes similar to the one’s you are thinking of for your big day. It’s hard to visualize what you will really look like in that dress if you could be mistaken for Courtney Love.

Isn't Randy just the cutest thing!? I think it's a keeper!

{photo credit: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress/}

Walking in my Shoes

Okay, okay, so the title of this post was stolen from Depeche Mode, but it has nothing to do with their song. I am here to say, while you may not be judged by the shoes you choose to walk in on your wedding day, you certainly will be photographed in them! Fashion comes before comfort until the photo shoot has wrapped, so please make sure to choose wisely.

{photo credit: http://www.susanstriplingblog.com/}

My friend Danielle (she's a shoe junkie, check out her new blog: http://deathbyshoe.com/) just HAD to have something fabulous, and while I won't reveal a price tag on these babies, let's just say it'd be my electric, cellphone, cable and daycare bills all rolled into one, but really - can you tell me her stunning blue satin Christian Louboutin's aren't worth it? I believe she actually quoted that they were "the stars of the show", although I would like to think everyone else knew better! And here they are my friends:

Okay, so maybe they were the stars of the show! They were well captured anyways by Calgary photographer, Chelsea at Shutterbird Photography (http://www.shutterbird.ca/).

Footwear photo's are a huge trend in wedding photography right now and a wedding album is just not complete without a few whimsical shots of the kicks you have chosen. This post could literally go on for days with the number of incredible shoe shots out there, so I will choose just ten and count down to my all time favorite shot, it won't be easy but here it goes, enjoy my fashionista friends!

ten

{photo credit http://www.ourlaboroflove.com/}

Ah, an ode to cowtown, one of my favorite pairs of shoes in my closet are my cowboy boots. This photo is so gorgeous it has a light, vintage country feel to it, the chestnut boots complement the uniform blue dresses wonderfully, and unlike some other cowboy boot pictures I found, these are really showcased in a tea-length bridesmaid frock. Not only are these unique and photograph beautifully, they sure as heck are good for a whole night of dancing (I would know!).

nine

{photo credit: http://www.nataliemoserphotography.com/}

This pair of beautiful feet grabbed my attention, and I don't know if it was the reflective sheen of the grooms patent leather or the chic hippy satin shoes of the bride, but I love this shot. It was taken in Orange County by the very talented Natalie Moser. The wedding was outdoors with shades of green and purple, accented with black and white. Lovely shot, I love how the colours are tweaked just enough to get that warm summer haze feeling. Those shoes are to die for and I might need to go on a hunt for them when my time comes!

eight

{photo credit: http://www.susanstriplingblog.com/}

Susan Stripling lives in Brooklyn, New York and therefor shoots some in Brooklyn as well as all over the New York City area. Why do I mention this? Because I can't think of anything more modern or fashion forward than a New York bride! That being said, this photo with the reflection of the bride's gorgeous ivory satin peep toes is gorgeous, the fabric textures paired with an old family portrait are so vintage chic and I love the warm colours. A great creative view of the shoes the bride will wear while promising her life to her new husband.

seven

{photo credit: http://patricialyonsphotography.blogspot.com/}

No other favored shoe choice of mine will get me more grumbles than the love-to-hate UGG boot, but this is my blog and so I get to choose, he he. There is no other shoe in my closet I love more than my chocolate brown UGGS that Josh bought for me a few Christmases ago. They are cozy, soft and comfortable, and honestly, I actually don't think they are ugly at all. If I were to have a winter wedding there would be no other shoes I would rather wear than my beloved UGG boots, see how cute and cozy they look? Love them or loathe them, at least this bride will be band aid free by the end of the night!

six

{photo credit: http://www.pkphotovideo.com/}

Wow, what a bride to pick such a bubbly and very fittingly themed shoe for her big day! These are just about the cutest shoes I could imagine and Peter Kelk of Maldon, Essex photographed these hot little Vivienne Westwood numbers beautifully!

five

{photo credit: http://leodjphoto.com/}

I adore couples who don't take themselves or their wedding day too seriously, besides, it is about the couple, who they are as a team and who they will be as they grow old together. These timeless and oh so comfy Converse sneaks make for a happy bridal party and fun and whimsical images of the big day.

four

{photo credit: http://gabrielryan.blogspot.com}

My obsession with the apple green wedding shoe began long ago when I started seeing shoes in the bridal scene that were different from the traditional white or ivory. For a long time I thought apple green shoes would do it for me on my big day, who knows really as I change my mind about colour palette's every day, but this image is just gorgeous. You can sense calm, yet a great anticipation of what's to come, just with the slight bend of the ankles.

three

{photo credit: http://blog.halbergphotographers.com/}

In the last few years, feathers have taken the wedding industry by storm. Fascinators are the must have item, clutches with peacock feathers adorning them, huge plumes of ostrich feather bouquets as centerpieces and even the wedding dress industry has caught the feather fever creating fun and floaty wedding gowns. One thing I have not seen a lot of yet is feathers hanging out on shoes. This may be because of the impracticality of keeping feathers clean, but it is after all "just one day" as everyone will keep reminding you!

two

{photo credit: http://www.klkphotography.com/}

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Well these gorgeous, vintage inspired pumps can take care of several of these items! Not only are these a fun and bright colour, coordinating with the satin ribbon on her bouquet, but they are a lower heel so the comfort factor is there, which is always an issue. Buying fancy, expensive shoes is one thing, but keeping them on is another! I think this bride did a great job in choosing her peep toes!

one

{photo credit: http://www.jenstewartphotography.com}

Well, here it is - the number one image in wedding footwear that I found. I chose this pair of "glass slippers" because I find it the epitome of a little girl dreaming to one day to be just like Cinderella and find her Prince Charming. While they may not be breathable or even very comfortable, they sure do make for a beautiful shot and quite the statement on your big day.

Well, there you have it, my top ten (actually, eleven if you count Danielle's pretties!) wedding shoes and wedding shoe images. As you can see, not all of these are big designer labels, that is not always what counts. Sometimes it's just a vibrant colour or hypnotic pattern that will make you know that pair of shoes is "the one".

Mr. and Mrs. Hopp

~"May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door."~

Kelly has always been like another big sister to me. I have two older sisters, but I think over the past ten years we've spent more time in different cities than living in the same city, and although my own sister's are my best friends, it was always nice to have someone around supervising our weekend activities back in high school.

Kel is the older sister of two of my very closest friends, Fiona and Sinead and the daughter of someone I consider my second mom, Yvonne. They are a wonderful family and all seem to share the same heart - when one hurts they all hurt and when one is happy, they all have huge smiles on their faces. This was one of those occasions, the girls were gaining an older brother and Yvonne, a son. Kelly was marrying her Prince Charming, as she referred to him in her speech. Brad is just an awesome guy and I can tell that him and our Kelly will have a long, exciting and very happy life with one another.

Brad and Kelly both love adventure and the outdoors and when they were going to choose venues they ventured out to beautiful British Columbia. Initially they were thinking a winery, maybe near Kelowna, but after staying at the Panorama Mountain Village, they knew they had found the spot, and what an amazing location they chose. It is this magical, sunny little village in the middle of the mountains and is totally self contained. They have shops, restaurants, pools, beautiful accommodations and lots to do for those who like outdoor activities. The staff there were so friendly and helpful, many of them from overseas, Australia, New Zealand and England seemed to be common and they were always offering to assist in anything they saw me doing.

The day of the wedding was gorgeous and sunny with blue skies. The ceremony site was stunning, right beside Toby Creek, a rushing crystal blue mountain stream that runs alongside the road leading up to the village. Being Irish, U2 seems to be a favorite in this clan so Kelly and Yvonne walked down the aisle to All I Want is You. Brad was overwhelmed and teary eyed as he saw his beautiful bride to be walk down the aisle. The entire time I was snapping photo's the two were grinning from ear to ear, and looked as though they only saw each other.

The reception was held in the Ski Lodge and was a perfect match for their theme and colours, rustic, natural, greens and blues. Kelly saved various glass jars and bottles for months and decorated them in ribbon and lace and had the florist fill them with a variety of natural looking greens and flowers. Darby, their adorable Cairn Terrier, was represented in frames for the table numbers. The candy buffet was enormous and again, Kelly made sure to have it colour coordinated with blues and greens and included her very favorite treat, Galaxy bars.


The guest mix was wonderful, and included 14 family members all the way from Ireland and one friend of Yvonne's from England, and does that gang ever know how to party. They shut the place down singing and dancing. The speeches were touching and Kelly's words to Yvonne brought everyone to tears, as it is widely known what a spectacular mother she has been to her three beautiful daughters. Slideshow's are always a great way to tie in the earlier lives of the bride and groom and show how they merged their lives together, this one also show cased some rather, um, unique photo's of both of them. Gotta love the 80's and 90's!

My absolute favorite moment of the day came when some of the Irwin School of Dance students performed traditional Irish dancing and dragged Kelly up. Acting coi and surprised I was wondering what she would do, until I spotted her dance shoes on her feet. Kelly surprised everyone, especially her new husband by Irish dancing in her wedding dress. To see Brad's reaction to this was amazing, and me, as the planner, I never get surprised by anything and this was such a treat.

Kelly and I share a lot of personality traits and planning this was so enjoyable as we agreed on everything and I saw her vision perfectly. The venue fit the theme, the party fit the family, and Kelly and Brad fit one another absolutely perfectly. Love you guys!

Mr. and Mrs. Yarwood

Well, the day had finally arrived. After months of planning, numerous coffee, wine, lunch and tea dates, countless emails and phone calls Ali and Graham's big day was here and for the first time in weeks, the Calgary sun was shining.

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography

Alison is a an organizational guru and a planner at heart. She had Excel spreadsheets for everything, vendor contact sheets for me and labelled everything. It was nice to have a bride like this, as it made the day run flawlessly. Even when you think there is no room for error, things happen, and the DJ that was guaranteed to the couple did not show, but Ali took a deep breath when I called her and said "meh, what can I do, it's the day of". Perfect attitude. The worst thing for me on a wedding day is seeing a bride fuss over little details that may not be perfect, but the big picture is that it is the wedding day, and nothing should break the smile on your face and ruin your day.

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography

It was nice for me as the wedding planner to be able to listen to the vows, as they chose a venue which held both the beautiful outdoor ceremony and twenty feet away, the reception. I must say, Ali and Graham's vows are the best and most heart warming I have ever heard. I know I am not the only one that was bawling their eyes out. I think personal vows can be so beautiful and really let your guests know why you are there, committing your lives to one another.

Graham's words to Ali:

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography

"My Baby Girl,

You have been an inspiration to me since we met, you never shy away from something you believe in and you start and end each day with all that you are. You have shown me that there are things worth fighting for and the goals that you set can be achieved. You wear your heart on your sleeve and love me unconditionally. I cannot see my life without you in it helping me find my way.

I love you with everything that I am. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life exploring the world with you, and growing our family. I look forward to spending every day showing you just how much I love you. "

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography

And Ali's words to Graham:

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography

My cousin said to me once…”When you find the right person, it’s easy.” I couldn’t agree more. Who knew that making fun of your peanut-shelling skills would have led us to today?

I want to thank you for convincing me that we would be awesome together.

So how do you put all the love and passion I have for you into words?

· I love you for making me laugh when I‘m sad, when I’m mad, when I’m happy.
· I love you for showing me a baby green pepper you found growing inside the big pepper.
· I love you because you’ll make me breakfast in the morning on the weekends and will put extra cheese in my eggs
· I love you for encouraging me to be brave when we went paragliding off a mountain in Turkey.
· I love you for buying me candy and taking me to the Aquarium in Portugal when we’d been awake for 52 hours and couldn’t quite check into our hotel yet.
· I love you for buying me funny cards for my birthday…or finding them in the kid section
· I love you for all the nicknames you give me and Koda.
· I love you for bringing out all the best things in me, and for cherishing who I am

I love you with a deep, resounding passion, with my heart so full it feels like it might burst.

I wake up excited to spend the next day with you, the next memory we get to create, the next adventure we get to experience together.

You’re my Peanut, my best friend and my favourite human. I promise with all that I have that I will treasure you for the rest of my life and I can’t wait to see what’s next…

See? So sweet!

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography

Koda, their beautiful Chocolate Lab also played a role in their wedding as the seating chart and table numbers displayed their only child (for now) proudly.

The Calgary Zoo was a stunning venue. The Enmax Conservatory was absolutely perfect. Being brand new, it was modern and airy and had a great separate cocktail area. The actual conservatory with the plants and flowers set up for some really nice guest pictures and the dining room was spacious and very neutral, so any colour scheme could fit nicely in this space. The Zoo staff were very accommodating and friendly and the food was AMAZING, they served guests Santa Fe chicken in phyllo with portabella risotto, delicious! Actually, it is the best wedding food I have ever had, so a huge kudos to the chef there.

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography

The guests and family all seemed to have a wonderful time -the wedding party looked smashing and the DJ (the one that did show up!) got the party started. Alison and Graham looked SO happy and SO in love, which, in my profession is the most important thing. I literally drove away from the zoo with a smile on my face knowing that they enjoyed every minute of the most important day of their lives.

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography

Chelsea of Shutterbird Photography (http://shutterbird.showitsite.com/) captured some of the images I have used here. She is an amazing Calgary Photographer, who is fairly new to the scene, but I would trust her with my own wedding, she takes time to get to know the couple, and never does the same shoot twice. They are personal, edgy, original and so beautiful they could be hung in your home as art and not the old-fashioned, posey wedding photo's of years ago.

Image courtesy of Shutterbird Photography