WEDDING WEDNESDAYS - destination Paris

Hello lovely people and sorry Wedding Wednesdays turned into Wedding MIA there for a while...So, I was just doing my usual wedding blog tour when I came across a destination wedding in Paris on Style Me Pretty. I highly recommend a visit to the site to see the rest of the photos by One And Only Paris Photography because they are incredible, or on second thought maybe I don't recommend it because you will die of envy and will want to go straight to the airport to fly to Paris on standby! And if you really want to sigh uncontrollably definitely check out the amazing collection of wedding photos in Paris at One And Only Paris Photgraphy.

So today's Wedding Wednesday lesson of the day is if you have the means, love everything Parisienne, and you and your hubby-to-be have the burning desire for an incredible destination wedding, GET MARRIED IN PARIS!! Yes, it's completely impractical, not at all economical, and the guest list will shrink dramatically, but a girl can dream on a Wednesday afternoon : ) Style Me Pretty Blogger Abby C. puts it so aptly, "put a beret on my head and hand me a baguette because I am ready to make a beeline to the most romantic city in the world!" So I actually haven't been to Paris, but the romance that oozes from the imagery from that magical city can only be a hint of what it's actually like. Paris I will come for you one day soon! And to all those bride and grooms who have the fortune of getting married there, post your photos so that we can live vicariously!

WEDDING WEDNESDAYS....Paloma Blanca

In my search for a wedding dress I have come across a spectacular Canadian designer, Paloma Blanca. Based in Toronto, and serving the bridal industry since 1937, this family owned business designs and produces their exquisite bridal gowns and accessories on home soil (way to keep it Canadian!). As the photos that I’ve included allude to their dresses are romantic, dreamy and original; the materials used are simply superb and feel absolutely amazing on (oh the lace!); and the style and finish is absolute perfection. The bridal accessories, including veils, boleros and brooches, are show stoppers in themselves and really add to a well put together bridal look.

Paloma Blanca dresses and accessories can be found in town at Isabelle’s Bridal in North Vancouver, and their price point starts at $1400. I recently heard that Paloma Blanca is the only Canadian designer sold at Kleinfeld’s in New York and has even been featured on their oh-so-fabulous wedding dress reality show “Say Yes to the Dress”. I know of a few brides who have decided on a Paloma Blanca wedding dress for their nuptials this year and they are beyond ecstatic with their dress choice! You can definitely trust this made-in-Canada designer to make you feel like the most beautiful bride on your big day.

WEDDING WEDNESDAYS……DIY Weddings!

For a craftier, budget-conscious wedding with lots of personal touches and eco-chicness think DIY!! I know I am for a number of my wedding details. It allows you to be more hands on and have more control over your wedding plans and your budget. And DIY is definitely not only for the frugal, but also for those who really want to personalize their wedding with details that really show off who you and your partner really are.

A more do-it-yourself wedding can include organizing your wedding without a wedding planner, creating your own decorations or making your invitations. It can be the small details (putting together your favours) or the larger ones (decorating your reception space), and it’s also a great way to involve friends and family and make it a part of the pre-wedding festivities. Arranging your own centre pieces never sounded so fun when you can get your girlfriends to help you out (add some vino, appies and some music and you got yourself a party)!

And there are a ton of great DIY wedding resources out there with lovely ideas for inspiration and sourcing materials. Online, in magazines and on the bookshelves at your local bookstore, DIY is all the rage right now so there is a lot of knowledge and info to draw from. Some great online resources I’ve stumbled upon include 100 Layer Cake, Ruffled Blog, Style Me Pretty, My DIY Wedding and of course from the woman who made DIY trendy again Martha Stewart Weddings.

DIY is definitely not for everyone especially when it comes to your wedding, but for those who want to be more hands on in the creative process or just want to add a personal detail or two, doing it yourself can really add that special touch and keep your budget in check too!

WEDDING WEDNESDAYS...Veil Wedding Show

Here’s a little promo for Veil, an intimate meet and greet with a small group of established local wedding pros. Many of the wedding fairs that are offered in Greater Vancouver can be very large and overwhelming, and brides-to-be feel more like herded cattle then a distinctive client in search of appropriate wedding vendors. Veil is a refreshing take on the traditional wedding show. It provides a smaller, more personlised version with a relaxed atmosphere where you can chat at length with top wedding professionals like photographers, florists and decorators… while sipping a glass of vino and savouring a canape or two (classy)! It takes place at different venues throughout Greater Vancouver 4 to 6 times a year, and it's only advertised through the wedding vendors attending and by word of mouth so it's a much more exclusive event. Definitely my recommendation for brides-to-be who are looking to attend a wedding show!

Wedding Wednesdays - On the Hunt for Bridal Accessories

Finding the perfect details to round out your bridal look for your big day can be a challenge. The search for the right pair of earrings, fascinator or clutch to compliment your appearance can become an arduous quest that you didn’t bargain for, especially when you’re in the midst of all the other wedding preparations. I would suggest finding the main piece to your bridal outfit first, THE DRESS! That is a hunt in itself and can set the tone not only for your look, but the wedding itself (this is a piece of clothing with some serious power and influence!). Unless you happen upon the necklace of your dreams and want to build your style around that piece, going the route of the dress first I think is the way to go. Your dress choice can then guide you in finding the right compliments, fitting both in style, i.e. vintage, glamour, eco-chic, and degree i.e. a highly embellished gown may not need a lot of accessories.

It’s always helpful to browse the bridal mags and blogs for ideas and signature styles that can help you figure out what compliments could work best. They often advertise local and online vendors that are selling accessories like jewelry, head pieces, shoes etc. There are numerous specialty stores in Greater Vancouver like Jeweliette, which has a collection of glamorous jewellry and accessories, and Blue Ruby Jewellry, whose seven retail locations in the Lower Mainland showcase international jewellry designers. Portobello West Fashion and Art Market and the One of Kind Show and Sale are also great locations to peruse. Many local bridal shops also have a selection of complimentary pieces from various suppliers which are worth a gander. Some great online vendors I’ve come across (ah, the beauty and ease of purchasing online!) include: Etsy.com, where you can find a marvelous myriad of handmade items from designers around the globe; Lo Boheme.com, which has some whimsical vintage inspired head gear from fascinators and head bands to custom made pieces; and By Ropena.com with an array of head piece designs from exotic to 19th century renaissance inspired.

When in doubt always get a family member or friend to help you in your search…and if they happen to have an eye for style even better! And if you’re creative and love DIY projects, an accessory designed and made by you or a loved one can make that bracelet or shawl hold extra special meaning.

Best of luck accessorizing you brides-to-be out there!

WEDDING WEDNESDAYS….Oh the Wedding Planning!

So after all the initial wonder and awe of getting engaged, receiving so much love and affection from your nearest and dearest, and gazing into your now fiancee’s eyes with more love and longing than you ever thought possible, you do come to the realization that you have a wedding to plan!!! This can seem overwhelming and very daunting at first, especially if you have no idea where to start and can’t envision every single detail in an all encompassing theme like some lucky visionaries can! But have no fear, for if you’re as lucky as I am to have such wonderful (and very resourceful and creative!) friends and family (who may come to pity you because you look like a deer in the headlights when asked what colours you’re thinking of) ideas, recommendations and magazine’s galore will come flooding your way. Another great resource to tap into I’ve found is the good ol’ internet with it’s plethora of oh so fabulous wedding blogs and websites. There are so many to peruse through boasting a spectrum of wedding themes from classic traditional to casual destination to eco chic to alternative and funky with lots of pretty little details in between. Some of my faves include the Style Me Pretty blog; if you want to see images of real live weddings with the most thoughtful details, pops of colour and the most romantic landscapes ever this is a great one. If you love everything chic and glamorous then the Wedluxe blog and website are to die for, and for something a little more practical check out Savoury Chef - Vancouver Venues it has a comprehensive list of venues in the Vancouver area with great pieces of info like dining capacity and rental prices. Some other fantastic, very detail oriented blogs are 100LayerCake (photo above from this trendy blog highlighting wedding planner vendor 'Chic Weddings' who specialize in destination weddings in Italy! Let me pause here for a second to sigh!) and Once Wed (who are highlighting wedding cakes this week, and what I need "how to make your own wedding cake"!). All have great links to vendors and other sites of wedding interest. It’s definitely easy to get lost in the world of wedding cyberspace I tell you so give yourself an afternoon on a lazy Sunday to give them a whirl and be ready to be inspired!