Friday, January 27, 2012

Another wedding show!

Just in case you didn't get enough excitement at The Wonderful Wedding Show last weekend, we're at it again! That's right, another wedding show! If you weren't able to attend The WWS or you'd just like to attend a more "intimate" wedding show, Madeline's is putting on another on February 5 at the Delta Winnipeg. We can't get enough of these things. Seriously!

The event is free to attend, however, you must register here: http://madelinesweddingsandevents.eventbrite.com/

Some other vendors that will be there:

Madeline’s Weddings & Events
Delta Hotel
Michelle Zerr Photography
The Floral Fixx
Fine Eyes Make Up
A Moving Pictures Studio
Dwayne Larson Photography
Cake Studio
Marc Desrosiers – Marriage Commissioner
Sunlife Financial – Kate Brito
Harp Oasis
Tania Jane
The Bagpiper
David’s Bridal
Academy Florist
Steven Fehr – Marriage Commissioner



Here's a look at Madeline's previous wedding shows at the Delta Winnipeg thanks to photographer, Michelle Zerr











Wednesday, January 25, 2012

(A few) Pics from the Wedding Show!

We had an absolutely fabulous time at the wedding show this year (as we do every year!) and we took a couple pictures so I thought it would be nice to share a couple with you.

We had a combined booth with Madeline's and we were able to meet a ton of fantastic brides and as always, enjoyed taking in all of the fantastic booths all the other vendors had. The fashion show was great and we hope all the brides who attended had just as much fun as we did.









Saturday, January 21, 2012

A Picture's worth a thousand words, a video's worth a million

I have had some discussions with friends as of late regarding the wedding video. Is a video necessary? Will you really watch it later? Is it worth the money if you're getting professional photos? I've heard lots of opinions so I thought I'd take the time to write about what it takes to make your wedding video perfect (if you choose to do one, that is).

1. Make sure you have a good relationship with your videographer. This goes for any wedding vendor you might have. Make sure you have lots of communication and discussion with them before the big day. It's better to be redundant and repetitive than to end up with something you are disappointed with. Make sure you see samples of what they've done in the past and if you don't like their style, keep shopping.


2. Know what you want. Watch a bunch of wedding videos online before you meet with a videographer. Do you want your video to have a vintage feel? Do you want it to look like a preview to a feature film? Is there a certain shot or activity you want to make sure he or she captures? Know the answers to these questions before you book someone.

3. Think hard about what you will watch after. Nothing beats being there. What I mean is, while listening to your parents' speeches is wonderful at your wedding, think hard about if you're going to want to watch them later. Chances are, you will never get around to it and to be honest, it's boring watching something like that in a video. If you decide beforehand that you'll likely only watch a 5 minute video with shots of you and your husband getting ready and shots from the ceremony, then that's all you'll need to pay for.

4. Know what you're getting and negotiate a price for it. Make sure you know how much footage will be shot, how long it will take to edit and how you will be given copies. This way, you'll know what will be happening on the day of. You'll know if the videographer will need to set lights or other equipment.

5. Choose the right soundtrack. Picking the song to go with your video isn't about using your favourite song. You want this to be timeless. The song can set the mood and style of the video. Make sure you choose something you'll always be happy with.

This video is by a very talented wedding videographer in Winnipeg - Jake Arida

Jennifer & Andrew Wedding Highlights from Jake Arida on Vimeo.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Grand Opening of David's Bridal

Your Life Milestones Captured By Jake Arida Video: David’s Bridal Winnipeg Grand Opening Highlights

Check out the video from the grand opening of David's Bridal on Kenaston. It was a fantastic event and we were so happy to do the flowers! We're so happy to be working with David's Bridal and think it's awesome they chose Winnipeg for their third Canadian location. Thanks to Jake Arida for this beautiful video.

Tara & Paul - Testimonial and Photos


We received a lovely email from one of our lovely brides and we thought it would be a great idea to share it with our blog readers (with photos, of course). Thanks for sharing, Tara! We're so glad we could make your special day that much more spectacular. You looked beautiful!


Our wedding was on the Sunday of the September long weekend, September 4, 2011. Both the ceremony and reception were held at The Gates on Roblin. It was a great venue because we had a beautiful outdoor reception, then our guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres outside on the wrap around patio, and the doors to the ballroom opened half an hour before the reception began. Everyone was seated by the time we returned from taking wedding photos in the area.  

My hair and makeup was done at my parents’ place. One of my bridesmaids suggested her hairdresser and one of my colleagues suggested a MAC makeup artist. It would have been hard to find a shop open early enough to accommodate us on a Sunday. It was nice to roll out of bed and get ready in the comfort of our own home.  I think referrals are the best way to go!


Working with Julie was great! For almost every vendor we used at our wedding, we scoped out three potential businesses. The Floral Fixx was the third florist we visited. What immediately grabbed our attention was Julie's natural ability to pull flowers and greenery from different places in the shop, twist, turn, spray paint, and…voila! She put together a mini sample of what our special day would look like. We appreciated that the very next morning we received a quote based on our first discussion. She invited us back for another consultation and the opportunity to see a sample centerpiece (including chocolate cymbidium orchids which she had to order in). 


At our final meeting, she offered to take the curly willow, vines and roses that were on our arch and use them to decorate the head table. It was so beautiful! But, my favourite part of the ballroom was that she also used the leftover curly willow to make a candle display on the back counter. It was above and beyond what I was expecting and it took my breath away!  


Thanks Julie! You and your crew rock!


Yours truly, Tara & Paul










If we did the flowers for your wedding, feel free to email us (juliesflowers@mts.net) and we'll feature your wedding on our blog!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Open House with Madeline's

Back in November we did the flowers for Madeline's Weddings & Events' open house so these photos are long overdue!

Madeline's designed three different themed wedding tables that we created complimentary table centres for. The first was a black and white theme with splashes of Damask. We designed a tall centre piece in a sleek black glass vase with white ostrich feathers. 


The next table was a little more bold. It incorporated lime greens and purples to create a whimsical colour scheme. We did a hand-tied bouquet on the top of a square glass vase with two smaller vases with orchids in them to compliment the main table centre.








The last table centre we did was a classic hydrangea and rose in a funky martini glass vase.



We are thrilled to be working with Madeline's for The Wonderful Wedding Show coming up next weekend in Winnipeg. We can't wait to meet all you lovely brides and work with Madeline's on the event. 





Tips for looking Fab in your White Dress


Many of us are making New Years resolutions to drop 10 lbs or maybe more but the New Years resolution is a double-whammy for many brides. If you’re getting married in 2012, you may be thinking about trying to slim down and get in shape before your big day. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of tips that will help you reach your goal weight that much faster.

1. Track your food. You will be much more successful if you are actually tracking what goes into your mouth throughout the day (tracking in your head doesn’t count). If you struggle with this, there are a number of apps and websites out there designed to make it easier. Our favourites are Spark People and My Fitness Pal (both available as iPhone apps). Research shows that you will lose twice as much weight if you are tracking your food, good and bad.

2. Sample smart. When you go out to sample your delicious food for your wedding, remember to take small portions. You know you are going to be sampling a lot so you don’t need a ton of one thing. Also, if you know you’re going to be sampling a bunch of cake one day, cut down the sugary foods in the next few days to make up for it.

3. Treat your workouts like an appointment. You wouldn’t miss a doctor’s appointment or an appointment with one of your vendors so make sure you treat your workouts the same way. Set aside a time you’re going to the gym or when you’ll do your 30 Day Shred and stick to it. Write it down in your day planner or your phone’s calendar so an alarm will sound when it’s time to do it.

4. Don’t do it alone. Try to set something up at work so that a bunch of you are doing it together. Plan to lose weight with a girlfriend or your mom. Or, you can always do it with “virtual” friends. Both websites mentioned above have fantastic community sections where you can connect with people who are going through the same thing you are.

5. Stay away from fads. When people are desperate to lose weight, they often turn to the latest fad diet so they’ll lose weight quickly. Don’t be fooled by this. The weight could (and most likely will) come back just as quick. The only healthy and sustainable way to lose weight is the old-fashioned way. Limit your calorie intake and exercise. (It’s cheaper that way, too.)

6. Manage stress. Planning a wedding is stressful and if you’re prone to emotional eating, make sure you have a healthy snack on you at all times. Set aside some time for some R&R each and every day. If something goes wrong, call your fiancĂ©, call a girlfriend but for heaven’s sake, don’t call Pizza Hotline.

7. Slow down and savour your food. Remember your food is yummy. You’ll feel more satisfied if you truly enjoy every bite of what you’re eating.

8. Drink your water. Studies have shown that when people drink more water throughout the day, they end up eating fewer calories. Keep a water bottle in your purse at all times and always order a glass of water (or a pitcher) when you’re eating at a restaurant to sip on between bites.

9. Don’t let yourself get too hungry. Plan your day. IF you know you’re going to be away from home for most of the day, make sure you pack something to eat to avoid being tempted to go through the McDonald’s drive through at 2p.m. when you’re starving and haven’t eaten since breakfast. If you wait until you get home, your hunger could take over and you could make bad decisions.

10. Keep your eye on the prize. If you don’t feel like going to the gym, think about your wedding dress. Before you eat that second piece of garlic bread, think of how you’ll have your wedding photos forever. You can do it. You just have to stay focused and you’ll see results.




Saturday, January 7, 2012

January = Wedding Show Time!


Tis the season! That's right, while there are many smaller wedding shows put on throughout the year, The Wonderful Wedding Show is the "big kahuna" of wedding shows here in Winnipeg. The Wonderful Wedding Show is held in January each year at the Convention Centre; this year, it's taking place on January 21 and 22. We understand that for a bride, The WWS can be a tad overwhelming, especially if she's never been before. Where do you start? How do you know how many booths to take in? How long should you spend at each booth? These are things a newly engaged bride wouldn't necessarily know. That is why we've compiled a list of things every bride should know before she takes in any wedding show, big or small.

1. Bring pre-printed cards to save time. Nearly every vendor will ask for your contact info and instead of writing the same information over and over, consider bringing pre-printed cards with your name, email address, phone number, wedding date and location. Make sure you leave a little space if additional information is needed like say number in your wedding party.

2. Remember, it's your day. It's easy to get caught up in the hoopla of the event but just because they're offering you 10% off on an ice sculpture that you can pour martinis through, doesn't mean you have to take them up on the offer. Unless of course, that fits with your vision. Remember what's important to you and to prioritize.

3. Don't bring too many people. If you have a large bridal party, maybe go with your mom or just your maid of honour. The WWS is big and crowded and the last thing you need to do is to be trying to keep track of everyone as you navigate your way through the chiffon and glitter.

4. You can say no, you know. I get a little squeamish when it comes to agressive sales pitches but sometimes I've learned that your best defence is just to politely decline. You don't have to give your email address to everyone you talk to and you don't have to pretend you like something when you really don't. That's not what wedding shows are for.

5. Prepare physically. I don't mean make sure you go to the gym beforehand, I just mean to make sure you take care of simple things before you head to the show. That is, make sure you've had a bite to eat and you're not going to be thinking about how hungry you are the whole time. Try to get dropped off or park underground so that you can leave your coat in the car. There is a coat check available but coat checks can get busy and full. Bring a light purse with only the essentials in it.

6. Bring a notebook. You would never go to a meeting at work without a laptop or a notebook because you forget things! The same applies at The WWS. Bring a hard notebook with a pen (and a few extra) so you can record things down as you go. You might also want a folder so you can tuck away handouts and brochures in an organized fashion.

7. Get a schedule and a map. Don't miss the fashion show and make sure you know your way around. Get a map beforehand and roughly plan out the booths you don't want to miss.

8. Last but not least, HAVE FUN and take it all in! You're getting married!! 





Tuesday, January 3, 2012

VIDEO - Floral trends


I was on weddingbells.ca (as I often am to find inspiration on not just blog posts but floral design as well) and I came across this video that every bride should watch before they pick out their flowers or even decide on a colour scheme for their wedding. It was from 2011 but I think many of these are going to stick around for 2012 and beyond. So many of these looks can be customized and perfected according to YOUR taste which is I think, what makes them so great. You'll see what I mean when you watch it. Take a look!