Happy Monday!
We wrote a guest post for the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada’s blog! Check it out here: 5 Creative Ways to Preserve Your Vows
Monthly Archives: July 2012
Niagara Wedding Planning | How to… The Wedding Speech
So you’re not a fan of public speaking? Do you have to give a speech? Yes. Does it have to be long and elaborate? No, and most people prefer it that way.
If you are the bride or groom, it is proper etiquette to thank your guests for being there and to thank anyone who has helped you with your wedding, as well as a toast to your new spouse. Do both people have to speak? No, in the “old days” it was usually only the groom who made a speech and the bride would stand along side of him. Some brides want to thank their guests for being there too. I personally like it when both the bride and groom make 2 quick thank yous and a toast to each other. Nowadays, if just the bride wants to make the main speech, she can and no one would think any different. In my opinion, both people should say something, even if it’s just a quick thank you to everyone for being there with them today.
Who else speaks? Traditionally, the best man and the father of the bride make a speech. At most weddings we see the best man, maid of honour, parents of the bride, parents of the groom and the bride and groom make a speech.
In what order? Usually the order of speeches starts with the Best Man, the MOH, the parents of the groom, the parents of the bride, the bride and groom. Nothing is set in stone and you can have your speeches said it which ever order you choose.
Individual or Couple Speeches? This is up to you, and the people speaking. Some people are more comfortable speaking with someone else by their side. If it were my decision, the BM and the MOH should have their own individual time to speak. When it comes to parents, each couple should stand together and speak. They can each have their own speeches, but remember to keep the flow of the wedding and make speeches short.
What not to do.
- Do not say a speech over 2 minutes long. People stop listening and get bored. You are not there to bore your guests.
- Do not make a speech that only the bride or groom cares about. In other words, don’t make a speech full of inside jokes, childhood stories etc. If you have a childhood story that makes a point, fine, but don’t include it if you are just reminiscing.
- Do not embarrass the bride or groom. This is their special day, it is not a “roast”. Make them feel special, not stupid or silly.
Niagara Falls Weddings | How to…Beat the Heat, Summer Wedding Tips
If you saw our recent post you know that Spring and Falls weddings are taking over. That doesn’t by any means mean that we no longer have weddings during the summer. If you are planning to have your wedding during the summer time, keep these tips in mind to help you beat the heat!
1. When searching for a venue, consider somewhere along the water. Here in Niagara, we have lot’s of water to choose from! Having your wedding near the water will increase your chances of getting a nice breeze to override the humidity once in a while.
Photo by Bryan Caporicci
2. Consider the time of day you would like to have your ceremony.A late afternoon/early evening wedding is ideal during the summer. This matters for many reasons.
- No one wants to stand/sit under the hot blazing sun. Not you, not your vendors, and certainly not your guests.
- If you want to get the best pictures possible, you do NOT want , I repeat, you do NOT want to take your photos when the sun is so high in the sky. We naturally think that having a gorgeous sunny day is going to look great for photos, but we couldn’t be more wrong. Think of the shadows the sun creates when it is so high in the sky- not pretty. Also, think of how hard it is to not squint without sunglasses, really it’s hard! You don’t want squinty photos!
- Most people want their reception to start after dark, if your one of these people, you need to consider what time the sun goes down at night. You don’t want too big of a gap between your ceremony and the reception.
3. Make sure your dress is appropriate for the weather. Let’s face it, wedding dresses can be heavy! Along with the heaviness comes heat, along with heat comes sweat! You don’t want to be drenched in sweat on your wedding day. If you’re planning a summer wedding that will be outside, consider wearing a dress with less layers.
4. Make sure you stay hydrated! With all that heat, it is so important that you drink plenty of water! You also want to hydrate your guests! You can add a bottle of water to each person chair, or for a very “pintrest” wedding you can create a water bar. Just like you would create any other kind of do-it-yourself bar, make sure you include lots of options for your guests. Have pitchers of water and on the side include bowls of fruit and ice.
Niagara Falls Wedding Planning | Most Popular Wedding Month change?
In the Niagara Falls area, July and August have always been the most popular months to get married in. Our weather has been so unpredictable that over the last 10 years or so you could always depend on July and August to give you nice wedding weather. However, in the past couple of years June and September have taken the lead with the most weddings happening.
Many couples are realizing just how stinkin’ hot and humid it is during July and August.
How many brides have had their wedding during these months and wanted to be in the picture above? Couples are choosing to opt for a late spring, early fall wedding rather then right in the middle of the summer.
If you’re thinking either of these months would be a good time to have your wedding, make sure you book early with your vendors, June and September fill up fast! If you are still set on a summer wedding, stay tuned for our” beat the heat summer wedding tips”!
Niagara Falls Wedding Planner | A Day with Lush Florals and Events
I spent my day working with Melanie of Lush Florals and Events. Melanie had a crazy busy today with 3 weddings booked and needed 
an extra hand to assist her. I had such a great time with Melanie, she’s not only an amazing florist, but she’s an awesome person too!
I love helping out other vendors because it’s a chance for me to see how their side of things are done. The more I can learn about different vendors, the better a wedding planner I become. There’s a few misconceptions about wedding planners, one is that a wedding planner just bosses all the other vendors around. If you have a good wedding planner, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Your wedding planner is there to to give direction and assist the other vendors. Our priority is you! Whatever it takes to make your day as close to perfect as we can for you, we do.
For example, today we had a wedding at an outdoor venue. The wedding was a patio reception, ie: no tent. With no tent, we had no walls to stop the wind from blowing the table cloths all over the place. They were in a ball in the middle of the table, covering the gorgeous centerpieces! The bride had requested that only the table cloths and the centerpieces would be on the table. This wasn’t working. If I wasn’t so type A, or Melanie was a florist who would just drop off the flowers and run, what would the bride have done? She would have had her guests arriving to bunches of linen all balled up on the tables. I went around and pinned the overlays onto the table cloths while Melanie set up the centerpieces. It still wasn’t enough. We asked the venue coordinator if we could do anything to solve this problem. The response was ” well she doesn’t want anything else on the tables…”. Sorry but that doesn’t cut it. We showed the mother of the bride the dilemma and she agreed we couldn’t leave it like that. We ended up placing cutlery on the tables to hold the table clothes down. Problem managed.
My point here is that if we had left without fixing this, who would have done it? The venue coordinator didn’t want to ask the bride or give her any suggestions and the MOB didn’t want the tables to have anything else on them. With no one to take charge and give direction, they would have had guests arriving to a big mess.
Remember, wedding planners are here to help you, the couple. You are our first priority and no matter what tasks we have to take on, we will do it to give you the greatest day ever.
The rest of the day went down without a hitch. We drove all over the Niagara region, delivering, setting up, and doing it all over again! Melanie provided me with invaluable experience from the florists point of view! If you’re looking for a Niagara Wedding Florist, I highly recommend Lush!
Niagara Weddings | Wedding Etiquette: The “Am I invited?”
You all know the question I’m talking about. The “am I invited?” Well that was very forward of you, and pretty rude too. I guess some people don’t think of asking the question as being rude, just conversation. There are however some people who will ask you to make you feel guilty about not inviting them. Don’t let that guilt change your decision if you have chosen not to invite them.
To respond to a question like this, tell them the truth (in a nice way). If they will for sure be invited, of course tell them so. If you are undecided, tell them you have to sit down with your fiance and whoever else might have an input on your wedding before you can work out the guest list details.
Whatever you do, stick to your budget. If you can’t squeeze in that guest and stay within budget then don’t allow them to pressure you into it. If you really do want to invite them and other friends but you can’t, consider hosting a cocktail party instead of a sit down meal to lower the price per meal.
Niagara Wedding Planner | Wedding Planning Stats
A Financial “To Do” List for Engaged Couples
by:Nathan Dawson
Engagement can be a hectic and overwhelming time for all parties involved. However, by setting a wedding budget and by creating a long-term money-management plan, you can ensure that you will start off on the right foot. Follow these steps for a good marriage preparation:
1. Prepare to merge finances
Discuss your spending and saving habits, your debts and assets and your respective salaries.
This was a great article that I just had to share with my readers! People don't liek to talk about finances, but at some point, you have to!
* In canada, the average wedding cost is actually 28, 000.
A Financial “To Do” List for Engaged Couples
by:Nathan Dawson
Engagement can be a hectic and overwhelming time for all parties involved. However, by setting a wedding budget and by creating a long-term money-management plan, you can ensure that you will start off on the right foot. Follow these steps for a good marriage preparation:
1. Prepare to merge finances
Discuss your spending and saving habits, your debts and assets and your respective salaries.
This was a great article that I just had to share with my readers! People don't liek to talk about finances, but at some point, you have to!
* In canada, the average wedding cost is actually 28, 000.
Niagara Wedding Planner- Pro vs. DIY Photography
Most people wouldn’t dream of DIYing their wedding photography, but some people do consider it as an option. DIY doesn’t necessarily mean they are taking their own photos, but they are hiring someone who doesn’t do this as a profession.
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Pro |
DIY |
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I really believe you should always consider hiring a professional when it comes to photography. Photos are some of the only keepsakes you will actually have forever. Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to capture the moments that mean the most to you. Photography is an investment in a memory.
What do you think? Did I miss a point for either side? Leave a comment below if there is anything I should add.
