Niagara Wedding Planner- Stand Out Ideas: Edible Wedding Favours

Posted on May 31, 2012 by meagles13

So you might be thinking “what is so original about an edible wedding favour?”, but let me tell you, these are not your ordinary chocolates-in-a-box type favour. These are favours that are sure to please, sure to excite, and are sure to be remembered.

Mini Flavoured Oil Favours

What a great idea for any foodie bride and groom or family. Plus this is such an easy favour to pull together! Add your favourite herbs to a jar and poor olive oil over top!

Tiered Wedding Cake Cookies

And Martha does it again with another fabulous idea! her tiered sugar cookies are designed to look like mini wedding cakes!! How brilliant! To see the recipe click here

http://www.labellebride.com/2010/11/04/top-10-edible-wedding-favors/

Homemade Jam

What a simple way to add such a personal touch to your day! Say thank you with homemade jam! This is perfect for a rustic, or farm wedding. These could even be used as a favour for a wedding held at a winery. I do love a good grape jelly! The bonus is you can make which ever flavour your heart desires!

http://www.blissweddingsmarket.com/brideideas/burlap_coffee.htm

Coffee Bean Favours

If you and your soon to be hubby are big coffee drinkers, what better way to say you love your guests, then sharing your love with them. Make it extra cute by storing the beans in a burlap sack! Mix it up and provide guests with different flavours of bean!

chocolate covered candy apple wedding favour

Candy by Katie

Bride and Groom Candy Apples

This one comes from one of my favourite vendors, Candy by Katie. How adorable and yummy do these chocolate covered candy apples look? Unless you’re really into cooking/baking I’d suggest leaving this favour to the pro’s!

If you really want to wow your guests and say thank you for being here, consider a not so typical edible favour!

Niagara Wedding Planner- Real Life Wedding Planning: Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Posted on May 30, 2012 by meagles13

If you really knew me, you wouldn’t believe me when I say that I don’t like being the centre of attention. Sure, I’m kind of goofy. Sure, I like to entertain my friends and family with my humour and, ahem*, my outstanding wit. But when it comes down to life’s events that revolve around me, I just want to shrink away under a warm blanket with a cup of tea, watch You’ve Got Mail, and munch on a bag of ruffled sour cream and onion chips, not worrying about the ridiculous amount of crumbs accumulating on my chest. But alas, we’re getting off topic.

I was the kid who, at her own birthday parties, hid under the desk in her bedroom playing with her Pound Puppies while her friends pinned tails on donkeys downstairs. I was the girl who, all dolled up for Grade 8 Graduation, cried when her parents wanted to take photos of her in her dress at home before the ceremony. I was the young woman who spent her university graduation day playing Super Nintendo with her mom on the living room floor, eagerly sidestepping the anxiety of walking in front of that large crowd of people to shake hands with a stranger and acquire one of the most important pieces of paper that would ever sit in her makeshift home office.

Don’t get me wrong; I’ve certainly changed since those days. My confidence has grown; I enjoy my accomplishments. But, unfortunately, on my biggest days, I still sometimes want to escape the attention, positive as it may be. I can’t possibly be the only one out there who feels like this! I know I’m not the only bride who, before the ‘big day’ arrived, tried to think of every possible alternative to being the focus of her own wedding day! I mean, couldn’t we just have a party in a darkened bar? Couldn’t we skip the head table and just sit with everyone else? Couldn’t we use our wedding savings to buy a house instead, and then have a big housewarming party?

All of these thoughts ran through my head at some point, and all are certainly valid options. But the fact is, a well-planned day will make you forget that any of these nerves ever existed. The day will go by so quickly, so smoothly, in a way that will only end up being fun for any couple, shy or outgoing. How did I overcome my worries? Easy: I asked for help! The best thing you can ever do for yourself when you start to plan your wedding is ask for help! Believe it or not, people want to be involved! Your mom! Your dad! *Cough* Weddings Tied with Lace! *Cough* Your brothers and sisters! Your friends (So thaaaat’s what the wedding party is for!). I speak from experience: Find your style. Find your fun. Be involved. But for the love of weddings, save your sanity and ask for help.

- Mel

Niagara Wedding Planner- Vendor Love: Stacy’s Creations Photography

Posted on May 28, 2012 by meagles13

Niagara Wedding Planner- Venue Visit: Doubletree Resort Fallsview

Posted on May 23, 2012 by meagles13

I met with one of the Doubletree’s coordinators Wita, for a visit so she could show me around the hotel and let me know what the venue has offer potential couples.

Take a look at some of the photos I took during my visit as well as photos I have included from previous weddings, then check out the specs to see if this venue fits your style and needs.

Ceremony/Cocktail Area

Reception Area

Compare the Specs

	Reception	Ceremony
Rental Fee	included	$150
Space can fit	250 pp	100 pp

Onsite Catering	yes
Buffet	yes
Plated	yes
Family Style	no
Menu Packages	yes

Silverware, glassware, linens	yes
Chair covers included	no

Niagara Wedding Planner- Current Events: Wine and Cheese Vendor Event

Posted on May 20, 2012 by meagles13

This weekend I hosted a small vendor event to mix and mingle with some local wedding vendors. As a wedding planner it is so important to build and maintain great relationships with other professionals in the industry. We had the chance to chat about current events, give each other great advice, and build working friendships.

The vendors in attendance were:

Melanie from Lush Florals see her featured here

Jesse from Jesse James Photography see him featured here

Katie from Candy by Katie keep an eye out for her upcoming feature!

Niagara Wedding Planner- Exciting News: Two Blogger Introductions

Posted on May 18, 2012 by meagles13

We are so exited to introduce two wonderful ladies who will be writing about everything having to do with weddings. Britta is currently planning her 2013 wedding and will be sharing her journey with us as she goes! Her style is simple, elegant, and overall classic.

Mel is recently married and loves everything to do with weddings. She is off-beat, a little funny, and loves an unconventional twist!

I for one cannot wait to read what these girls have to say! Make sure to subscribe to our blog in order to keep up to date on wedding trends and ideas, and the journey through the wedding planning process with Britta.

Follow our Twitter and Facebook page!

https://twitter.com/#!/WedTiedWithLace

http://www.facebook.com/WeddingsTiedWithLacePlanningAndDesign

Niagara Wedding Planner- Real Life Wedding Planning: Wedding Gown Shopping

Posted on May 18, 2012 by meagles13

For my summer wedding I was looking for something to suit my classic, somewhat preppy, nautical wedding theme. It was a tad difficult to find a variety of styles to try on seeing how I’m not a strapless ball gown enthusiast. I found simple, elegant, fit and flare gowns in soft fabrics to be few and far between.

Walking in a bridal shop for the first time was overwhelming. There were so many dresses everywhere you looked, it was hard to know where to start. The whole experience turned out to be much more laid back than I had anticipated. It helped to bring photos of styles I liked so the consultants could point us in the right direction.

I tried on a variety of styles in several stores. From full ball gowns (that weighed a ton) to backless silky charmeuse gowns; I tried them all. It was very helpful to try on different styles to see what worked best on my body type and from there it was simply a matter of preference and price.

One big difference between the countless episodes of Say Yes to the Dress ( which I’m sure we’ve all watched) and my personal experience was no one asked me what my budget was. To me this was like taking a person with a car budget fit for a compact and showing them a seven passenger SUV hoping they’ll fall in love with all the extra space.

Most places allowed me to dress myself which I didn’t expect either. All the consultants were friendly and knowledgeable and seemed to genuinely want to help me look great on my wedding day. Judging by the comments on my undergarment preparedness, it would seem many brides don’t take the advice of the magazines and websites they troll and wear all sorts of crazy colours instead of nude coloured garments which look best under white.

I highly recommend making an appointment. At one particular shop we just popped in to look around as we had just finished shopping at one down the road. The woman was extremely rude and left us on our own because we had not called ahead even though there was absolutely no one in the store. Everything was outdated looking and we didn’t feel the need to try on anything in that store anyway so we promptly left (no wonder there was no one in there).

In the end I think it is most important to find something you feel great in and you can move comfortably in. You can always tell when someone is wearing the dress or the dress is wearing them. In the end I found a great dress that fit my budget.

Tips for Wedding Gown Shopping

Make an appointment
Bring photos of the styles you are interested in wearing or trying on
Wear nude under garmets
Leave lots of time, you never know how long you appointment could run
Make sure to let the consultant know your budget

- Britta

Niagara Wedding Planner- Stand Out Ideas: Double-Duty Center Piece Options

Posted on May 17, 2012 by meagles13

If you’re looking for a way to trim a few dollars off your budget, try some of these double-duty center piece options which also check another task off your list.

1.Candy “Buffet” Centerpiece

If you are thinking of having a candy buffet at your wedding, consider putting a few dishes in the center of each table to create a beautiful and interactive centerpiece. If you put different candies at each table, your guests will be encouraged to get up and talk to eachother.

2. Bread Basket Center piece

From Stylemepretty

Create a gorgeous and edible center piece out of fresh, crusty bread, baguettes, and breadsticks in a bakset with oils and herbs for dipping. Decorate with some fresh herb pots you can give out at the end of the night. This is a great option for “Foodie” couples, plus the herbs will give off a nice fragrant aroma.

3. Favour-Tower Center Piece

Stack pretty favour boxes in the center of your table to double as a centerpiece and favours for the table. Place them on a vintage cake plate for extra specialness.

4. Cupcake Bouquet Centerpiece

By Designer Delights

A Cupcake bouquet is a great way to save some cash and have a unique centerpiece. It mocks the traditional floral arrangement, but adds the benefit of yummy cake! Plus you don’t need a cake now!

Niagara Wedding Planner- Stand Out Ideas: 3 Best Benefits of a Wedding Website

Posted on May 15, 2012 by meagles13

You may have heard of building a personalized wedding website to organize and communicate about your wedding. Do you need a wedding website? Simply put, no. Should you have one? That depends. Take a look at the list below to see the list of benefits and if any of them seem like a good reason to have one for yourself.

1. Simplifies Communication

Having a wedding website simplifies the communication process. You can let your guests know exactly what you’re thinking by writing it on your website. Most websites have a “registry” tab where you can list all the stores you are registered at. Because it is listed on the website, and NOT in the invitation, you are still following the rules of etiquette! Some websites or apps like Weduary encourage the social aspect of the wedding, before it starts! Guests who are attending the wedding alone can mingle with other guests online before the wedding day!

2. Easy to RSVP

This is especially good for “green weddings”. In the invitation you can let people know they can RSVP on your wedding website. It is nice to have this option because many people find it easier to fill out a couple spots online and hit “ok”. To follow the rules of etiquette (unless this is a “green wedding) you should still include pre-stamped envelopes in your invitations for people to send in their RSVP’s. Not everyone has a computer, and not everyone will want to send it in that way.

3. You can tell your story

Write about yourself as a couple, how you met, what you like to do, and how excited to are for your upcoming wedding. Add pictures of the two of you as well. This is great for out-of-town guests to look at as they don’t see you on a regular basis and they may or may not know your soon to be spouse.

Niagara Wedding Planner- Venue Visit: Sheraton on the Falls & The Crowne Plaza Fallsview

Posted on May 14, 2012 by meagles13

I recently sited the Sheraton on the Falls & The Crowne Plaza Fallsview hotel with Michele Taylor, the on-site wedding coordinator. This is a beautiful property with space and packages to fit weddings of all sizes. Whether you are coming to Niagara Falls to elope, or you are from the area with a huge family, they can fit it all. The ballroom at the Sheraton on the Falls can hold up to 1800 pp set for a reception.

Take a look at the pictures I took on my tour(some are courtesy of the Hotels) as well as some pictures I took while shooting with Jesse James Photography during an elopement ceremony that took place in a gorgeous fallsview suite. We then went across the street to Oaks Garden Theater for their pictures.

The Great Room

Fallsview Room

View from the Fallsview windows

It was hard to really capture what the view from this room really looks like, but it gives you an idea of what you would see in person.

The Grand Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza

The Spa

The Sheraton on the Falls just renovated their spa and it is gorgeous! It’s a very welcoming and relaxing environment as soon as you walk in, and you really can’t beat the view! What bride wouldn’t want to be pampered here before her wedding day?