Making your own Wedding Invitations
I decided to make my own wedding invitations. I've included a picture to show just how well they turned out!
Top 6 reasons why I would suggest making your own invitations:
1.) You can incorporate the exact wedding colors you have chosen in every aspect of the invitation. As you can see, my wedding colors were pink and yellow. You can add color by using different types of paper, ribbon, gems or flowers. Different textured paper and layering also can create a nice effect and allows multiple colors to be incorporated. Velum paper adds a very nice and delicate effect, for example. I bought all of my paper and rhinestones at Michael's (a popular art and crafts retailer).
2.) Wedding planning can be chaotic and moments together, away from family and all the turmoil become important. Making invitations together is a great way to spend time and bond with your future husband or wife on a creative project.
3.) It is way cheaper than paying someone else to do the assembly. I priced three different alternatives: a.) for a company to make my invitations (most expensive), b.) buying a kit that I assemble myself (expensive), or c.) making my custom designed homemade invitations. The third option was definitely the most cost effective. Weddings can be extremely expensive it is important to save money whenever you get the chance.
4.) You can bring out your creative side. Try a bunch of practice invitations until you come up with a template that you like. Try gluing something here or tying a bow there. Once you find one you and your partner are happy with, begin mass production.
5.) It adds that personal touch that everyone will love. Anyone can go out and buy invitations, but when you receive a handmade one, you appreciate so that much more knowing how much thought and time went into it. Every time I went over to a friend's place and saw it displayed on their fridge I was proud of my creation.
6.) You will have an end result that is very unique! You definitely won't risk ever sending an invitation that someone has seen before. If you get married around the same time as all your friends or family you don't want to risk the horrifying possibility of a duplicate.
The only thing to keep in mind is the amount of time this option will take. Otherwise, I say do it. You might even surprise yourself. I sure did!
Top five ideas for a bachelorette party
Now that all of the important aspects have been taken care of (dress, caterer, venues), it's time to start doing the fun planning: an event for you an all your close girl friends.
A bachelorette party is a great way to relieve some pre-wedding stress. The planning can be left up to the maid of honour and bridesmaids to add an element of surprise, or can be planned by the bride to ensure it has all the components she desires.
Here are 5 ideas for a super entertaining stagette:
1.) A night out on the town. Head to your favorite night club for a night of dancing. A theme with costumes is fully
encouraged. BuyCostumes.com offers the largest selection of costumes and party supplies online. Dress up as the bride's favorite sport's team or celebrity. Be sure to dress the bride-to-be in something flashy so she is sure to stand out and get the attention she deserves!
2.) Alternatively, stay in and have a house party. Games, movies, snacks. It will be sure to remind you of slumber parties back in the day.
3.) Vegas, baby! Party capital of the universe and non-stop entertaining guaranteed. It will be one of the more expensive options, but worth every penny! Go to shows Las Vegas Event Tickets, stay on the strip, head to a fancy nightclub or even do a bit of gambling. Luck should be on the bride-to-be's side!
4.) Head out of town for the weekend on a nature retreat. Grab some tents, sleeping bags and some marshmallows. It surely help to stress relief in the calming outback away from the decisions for a while.
5.) Hold a lady's day at your house. Invite a make-up artist or a pedicurist/manicurist for all the women to get pampered. You can plan this closer to the wedding so everyone has nice fingers or toes for the wedding day.
Also, don't forget to use the stagette planning as an excuse to get all the ladies together for a brainstorming session 
If you need to improve on my suggestions, Bachelorette.com helps you plan a great bachelorette party.
Capturing your wedding on film
Hiring a photographer can be a difficult decision. Before my wedding I spoke to a few girls at work who were all getting married. They were appalled that I was getting my friends to take my wedding photos since they said that is the most important aspect of a wedding. However, I am so glad we went the way we did.
We paid our friends $500 (so that it was more professional and would be taken seriously) although they had offered to do it free. They had to take pictures for the ceremony only and as we didn't care about photos during the reception. We told them we wanted them to be involved in our wedding some way since they are good friends and that we didn't want to ruin our friendship over it if it didn't turn out. We also told them we wanted at least a couple of good photos and anything after that was a bonus. They were very hesitant since they didn't have much wedding experience but have only taken sports and travel photos to date.
In the end they gave us hundreds of photos (over 500) on a cd and about 70 of them were amazing. They used 2 different cameras (Canon Digital SLR EOS 30D and 5D) for 2 effects. They also offered to come with each of us (the male with the guys getting ready and his wife came with us ladies as we got our hair and make-up done) in the morning. It meant a lot just to have them hanging out with us the morning of the wedding.
The benefit was the cost, and having people you know hanging around instead of a stranger since it was a good 3 hours of photos. We brought and a picnic basket of food and some ice cold beverages to the park for the process (highly recommended!). Also, when someone you know does it, they will probably give you all the whereas photos to print some professionals keep the photos and you have to pay to get them printed.
The biggest problem doesn't tend to be the photographers...it's the people in the photos. Not looking at the camera, having a stupid expression, closing their eyes. Out of all the photos that didn't turn out, none of them are our photographer's fault (not blurry or anything). It's the moron's in our wedding party/family with the lack of attention span.
Wedding Gown Styles
Searching for hours online gave me an idea of what I would come across before entering the bridal shop for my first time. Even with a bit of research under my belt, it was a very overwhelming experience. Trying on the first dress gave me goosebumps and gave me a taste of reality! There are many styles to choose from including: A Line/Princess, Empire, Column, Mermaid, and Ballgown.
A Line/ Princess: This style is flattering on almost all body types. Named after the letter "A", this dress is tight around the bodice and then flows out to the ground.
Empire: This style starts off snug just under the bust and flows out as it decends. It acts to accentuate the neckline and is a fabulous choice for those women with a small bust.
Column/Sheath: Best suited for lean figures, this simple style flows directly down from neckline to hem, giving it it's column-like appearance.
Ballgown: Just like Cindrella, this is a fairy tale of a dress. It's a fitted bodice, with a full skirt base. Ideal for slender or pear-shaped brides.
Mermaid: This style of dress contours to the body from the chest to the knee, then flares out to the hem from the knee down.
I recommending trying one of each style on just to get an idea. Dresses to look much different on then on a hanger. You will find you will narrow your decisions quickly and as you find things you like and you can veer off a certain direction.
Other options to try include various necklines, sleeves, lengths and colors, of course!
White is the traditional color, but today more and more brides are livening things up with various colored gowns.
How to choose the perfect wedding dress.
As I learned from experience, you should buy your wedding dress no later than 6 months before your wedding. It can be done in a shorter time frame, but your selection will be limited as you will not have time to order one.
When you order a wedding dress it takes at least 6 months to be made and shipped. Unfortunately nobody gave me this advice until it was too late, so I was forced to buy one "off the rack" and make alterations for it to fit me. I had picked out a dress online that I loved, but hadn't left myself enough time to order it, so had to settle for something else. Fortunately I was able to find a dress that I loved in the end. I hope you find your perfect dress too!
Selecting your wedding caterer…mmm food!
If you ask anyone that's been to a wedding lately about the little details, chances are they won't remember. They will however remember what they ate and how it taste.
What were the chairs like? Don't know.
What did they have as centrepieces? Can't remember.
How was the food? Incredible!!! We had a full course meal, chocolate cake for dessert, blah blah blah.
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I have 3 suggestions for finding a caterer:
1.) Ask anyone you know who recently got married or attended a wedding to suggest a caterer. To receive an unbiased opinion refrain from asking the bride and groom as their day will be wonderful and even a mediocre meal would be remembered as being fantastic. Instead, ask their guests. Anyone attending a wedding recently can give you an unbiased opinion of the food. If it was given a raving review, don't hesitate to ask the bride or groom who they had catering the meal.
2.) Check a wedding website. I personally used weddingbells.ca (a Canadian Bride forum) to get ideas. People offer all sorts of advice in the forums and are brutally honest at times. Wedding forums are a great resource for many opinions in addition to caterers.
3.) Look through the phone book. Almost every catering company in town should be listed so you can get an idea of how limited you may be.
After you have figured out your budget, you can call around and get pricing and check your date availability from a few companies. If the price is affordable and they are available, start exploring menu options. Buffet? Served?
I suggest meeting with a few caterers and discussing the finer details. You should get a good feeling from your caterer right aways as it will be important on the day of the wedding for the food service to go flawlessly.
Pricing may include linens, dishes and other extras. I recommend going with a caterer who will provide the entire package for one price. That makes it more simple and easier on the day of your wedding. They bring everything in, set up, and take all the dirty linens and dishes away at the end.
I used Vintage Catering in Calgary and was thrilled with their service and food. The best part however was the advice I was able to get from the caterer. She has been in the wedding industry for ages and tons of tip to offer on dresses, flowers and decorating. What an excellent resource!
Booking a hall for your wedding reception
Tips for booking a hall for your reception: (highly recommended!!!)
-The best advice I can give is to pay a little bit extra if possible to have the hall clean-up done for you! It is worth every penny. This extra fee saves you from worrying about taking down chairs and tables, moping, etc. There is nothing your close friends and family will appreciate more than getting to leave at the end of the night without any responsibilities once they have seen the bride and groom off.
-Make sure the hall is available the evening/ day before so that you can go in and decorate as well as bring all your wedding supplies over early. You don't to be setting up the hall the same day as your hair, make-up, etc. Way too hectic.
-If you want to save on costs and are providing liquor to your guests, be sure to get a liquor licence. Also, check your local legislation on bringing home-made liquor onto the premises. For example, in Calgary it is prohibited.
-a great website for finding halls and their capacities in Calgary is:
http://www.calgaryarea.com/facilities/communityfacilities.htm
Choosing the perfect setting for your wedding ceremony
Picking a venue is very important and should be done as soon as possible (ie. right after the engagement and after/in conjunction with picking a date).
I held my ceremony outside in a park next to the river and held my reception at a hall. The setting may not be the same for everyone, some of the things to consider will be.
The best advice I can offer is to be openminded and flexible! If you have had your mind set on getting married in a certain church since you were a little girl, be prepared to wait. However, if you are willing to check out all of the churches in your city you will have a lot more options.
The size of your wedding with strongly influence your venue so you have to decide which is more important. Are you willing to limit your guest list so everyone can fit in your dream venue?
Check and see if your venue requires a permit. For example, in my particular case, the City of Calgary requires that you apply through the city when holding a ceremony in a city park. Each park has it's own application process and a permit will be issued after application. Fines for not completing these steps may be hefty!
If your ceremony will not be located in the same venue as your reception, I encourage you to place them within close proximity to each other, for the convenience of your guests. Most people coming from out of town won't be super comfortable driving all over the city on such an already hectic day. I know my mother was in tears trying to get from one location to the other.
Start planning your wedding and pick a date
Now that I've enjoyed the bliss of the engagement for a while and told my friends and family the wonderful news, it's time to start planning!!! The 3 most important things to do at the very beginning are the when? where? and who? My next three blogs will touch on these subjects.
When picking a wedding date you should consider a few things:
1.) First, you should figure out in which season you would like to get married. Have you always picture getting married in the summer outside under the heat of the sun? Or, would you prefer the majestic snow tipped mountains in the background as your guests all huddle around to keep warm in an intimate outdoor winter wedding?
2.) Now that you've picked a season you have to decide what day you want. Long weekend? A benefit of the long weekend includes an extra day of travel for guests. The downfall is that long weekends tend to be very popular and therefore you are competing when booking and also for guest attendance as they may have other weddings to attend. Also, you really limit yourself to one or two weekends per season.
3.) Check with your close friends and family for dates that will work for them. Narrow it down and give them a few options. Nothing is more important at a wedding than having your loved ones there to share the memories.
4.) Choose a timeline that will align well with your budget. No need to rush into the wedding and put any unnecessary financial restrain on your relationship if you have the flexibility to wait an extra year and save up for the wedding.
5.) Research the availability of a few venues (ceremony, reception) and find out what is available as the more flexible you can be when choosing a date, the more likely you will be to have things just the way you anticipate.
Now that you have picked a date, it's time to pick a venue!
**Editor's note: I got engaged in November and got married on a Saturday in July of the following year. That was enough time to get everything in order (8 months). It will differ for each person as the variables change. I will give examples of my experience throughout this blog for direct comparison.
The Proposal
We met in university and had been dating for 6 years. I began to wonder if he was ever going to propose. Our friends and family were constantly asking us when we were going to make our relationship "more official". My coworkers started checking my left hand for a ring everytime I went away or out for dinner. Everyone knew it was just a matter of time before we got married since we are perfect for each other.
It finally happened and it was worth the wait! We flew down to Vegas at the last minute on a cheap WestJet seatsale. I really didn't think it was going to happen on that particular weekend as my partner was showing no sign of being nervous. I always figured I knew him well enough after 6 years that I'd be able to tell by his actions that he was going to propose. Boy was I wrong! He was cool as a cucumber.
We were headed out for a nice dinner (usual occurrence in Vegas as there are so many great restaurants) and we stopped in front of the Bellagio to watch a fountain show. After the song ended, he got down on one knee and said "will you marry me?" and presented me with the most gorgeous diamond ring ever. I immediately started crying and don't remember the rest of the evening but I will tell you I had perma-grin on my face. For any guys out there, read this inspiring article on the best places to propose in Vegas.
Next day: reality strike. HOLY CRAP, I'M GETTING MARRIED! After wanting the proposal to happen so badly for so long, I was in shock for weeks. It was a tough concept to grasp that I would be spending the rest of my life with the same person. Looking at the ring helped me through it. Just kidding. I guess I never really thought long and hard about marriage until I was faced directly with it. After giving it some thought however, I grew to love the idea and I'm glad that I did.