The Wedding Belles

You Can Leave Your Hat On..

2011-04-27T13:55:00.013-04:00

The BIG DAY is almost here!

A 1,900 person long guest list, royalty, pomp and the uniting of a very lovely couple happens in a mere 2 days.

What are your plans?

A lot of the lovely ladies in our lives are planning on a very early morning of tea and gorgeous hats (any excuse to wear a handsome headdress is a good one in our books!). The TV broadcast on this side of the pond starts around 3AM (depending on the broadcast) and we know that all eyes will be on William & Kate - what they wear, who attends and in general as we get a sneak peak into what royalty looks like!

Here are a few fab finds in the hat department for inspiration from the soon to be MRS.!

All your Royal need-to-know at: http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/

S.W.A.K yourself for V-Day, or S.W.A.K. the one you love!

2011-01-28T16:32:00.004-05:00

The lovely ladies at The Soap Opera have been toiling and generally working their butts off to get their new line of make up ready for Valentine's Day and it's here - and early!
S.W.A.K. (sealed with a kiss) is the latest in gorgeous colour and happy skin. With colours like 'Gangrene' and 'Sage Against the Machine' to name a few, you can tell The Soap Opera have continued their fun and completely original product line. The 100th brain child (give or take) of the Soap Sisters has something for everyone!
Take a look and tell your friends, this stuff is going to sell like crazy!
Buy yours HERE, DO IT NOW!

New Year, New Offers

2011-01-15T09:22:00.005-05:00

Hello out there!

A very belated Happy New Year to all of you!

Also a huge thank you to all of those that made our 2010 so rewarding (and so much fun!).

2011 will be bringing a tonne of giveaways from The Wedding Belles as well as more posts, events and even some surprises! Stay tuned for pictures from our adventures as well as information on how you can win.

Without further adieu, our first 'contest' of 2011:

A free Consultation to help you get ready for the Big Day!

This is a great package for those that need help in getting started, getting ideas or just getting everything done.
It includes 4 hours of consulting, our complete vendor lists, review of your budget, guest list management, as well as answers and advice for all the questions you can ask!

All you have to do is go to our website: http://www.theweddingbelles.ca/ have a look at the Gallery Page and e-mail us a description of your favourite picture! Easy, right?

So, if you are nervous about everything that needs to be done before your big day, or you know someone that is starting to plan, get over to our website and submit your answer before February 28th!

Good luck!!

Ellaphant's Birthday

2011-01-08T20:18:00.004-05:00

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate and not everyone we invited could make it.

We had a blast though, and a BUNCH of left over (delicious!) cake!

Birthday Party Time

2010-11-11T09:33:00.007-05:00

I have a soon to be one year old.
She's really cute (if I do say so myself) and is stubborn and funny and full of energy.

I was trying VERY hard to think up clever ideas for her 1st birthday party.. at age 1, they can't really DO anything. Not well anyway. And it's next to impossible to keep her focused on something for more than a few minutes.

For my son (who is now four) we had a pool party. Because we had a pool and he liked ducks, this worked out. But now, with no pool, it being December and Ella showing no real interests in anything particular, I decided to use one of her (MANY) nicknames as a place to start.

A friend of mine who is an absolute Photo Shop genius made the design for the invitations.

I bought coloured card stock and envelopes in various bright colours, and we printed them out.
The elephant is stolen from her pink elephant rocker!

It's going to be a luncheon, to accommodate her nap time - and my sanity - so some easy lasagna and salad's will make up the bulk of the meal. For snacks I am going with peanuts (he he!), popcorn and the usual munchies.

I cannot wait to get a picture of the cake. Cakes by Design in Barrie are AMAZING at what they do, my son's duck cake (pictured here)

was out of this world and the 50th birthday present cake they made for a party was 3 tiers of amazing flavours.

There will be an elephant in the room - but everyone is going to want to eat it!

I'll be sure to post all the picture details.

What's your favourite part of planning a party?

Holding onto Summer!

2010-08-24T08:53:00.003-04:00

The summer is almost (gasp!) over, kids are going back to school, nights are cooler and it's getting darker earlier.

Thankfully there are still plenty of lovely days ahead!

Over the next few weeks keep a look out for our wonderful couples' wedding shots as well as a tonne of great fall and winter themed goodies.

We will be talking about how to plan the perfect party whether it be birthday, holiday or a company soiree we can help you make it fabulous!

As the summer wedding rush winds down we thought we would offer a few savings to those currently in the planning process.

If you book any service before November 30th, 2010 you will receive 25% off! Just reference the code WB1125.

And now, I leave you with some great DIY cupcakes that bring in all the wonderful tones of fall as well as looking (and smelling) YUMMY!

Click on the picture for full baking and decorating instructions!

Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase

2009-09-15T21:34:00.004-04:00

If you're planning a wedding, you and a guest will want to attend Welcome Wagon's Bridal Showcase. We have exciting door prizes, fashion shows, planning guides, special displays and gift bags for every bride.

Welcome Wagon's Bridal Showcase takes the guesswork out of planning your wedding by assembling everything you need under one roof. Each Showcase is tailored to the local area, with local businesses.

And best of all, the admission is FREE for you and one guest. You even have a chance to win an exciting honeymoon to a sun destination, courtesy of Today's Bride Magazine.

The Details:

A.N.A.F. Hall
7 George St., Barrie ON L4N 2G5
Doors open at: 7:00 PM

To register for this event click here, or call: 1-866-675-8380

Jennifer and I will be at the bridal show - take a moment to come by and say hello!

See ya'll there!!

Day of Coordination Giveaway!

2009-09-15T21:21:00.007-04:00

That's right! In honour of the Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase, Jennifer and I are going to give away our services to one lucky couple!

Aside from maybe a glowing review at the end of the process(!!) there's no strings attached! Of course, there's a few rules:

The Rules
1. The wedding must take place before May 31, 2010
2. Wedding can not be on a date that is currently booked by another client
3. Here's what you'll be receiving:

Wedding Day Coordination includes a meeting one month to two weeks before your wedding, rehearsal attendance and full wedding day coverage with at least one assistant.

We are able to provide the following services:

Coordination of rehearsal, ceremony, and reception
Unlimited wedding day coverage
Vendor confirmations
Act as the main go to person for the day
View reception site (if needed)
Wedding day emergency kit on hand
Set-up of wedding items and accessories as needed

To Enter Giveaway:
1. Become a follower of our blog! www.eventsbytheweddingbelles.blogspot.com
2. Post a comment on this post about your wedding. We want to hear all the juicy details: date and location..and also why you think you should win!
3. All entries must be made 10:00pm on Sunday September 27, 2009
4. Winner will be chosen by random drawing on Monday September 28, 2009 and the winner will be notified via email. The winner will be posted on the blog after they have been contacted.

Thursday Delights!

2009-07-02T11:35:00.004-04:00

Check out these tasty little numbers! They would make the perfect bridesmaid accessory (and gift!). Check out http://www.beegeebags.com/ for more styles and patterns!

Things We Like To Avoid!

2009-05-24T20:40:00.001-04:00

A very special thank-you to Jenna for helping us out this week!

How To Be Assertive With Your Future Mother-in-Law
by Jenna D. Barry

The way you interact with your future mother-in-law now will set a precedent for how she will treat you after you are married, so it’s important that you start behaving as an adult on an equal level to her. If she says or does something that gets on your nerves, don’t get your hoop slip in a wad. Just talk to her in a calm and mature manner. What you say is important, but how you say it is even more important. Treat your mother-in-law the same way you’d want your fiancé to treat your mom. You can be firm if necessary, but remember to be tactful so you can make progress toward gaining your future husband’s loyalty and respect.

Let me address some common complaints by brides.

1. “My future mother-in-law gossips to my fiancé about me.”

You can’t completely control whether or not your fiancé’s mom gossips about you, but you can try to put an end to the problem by addressing it at the source (i.e. the person who gossips) and the endpoint (i.e. the person who listens to the gossip).

For example you can tell your fiancé, “Honey, I’m going to try to have a healthier relationship with your mom, so from now on we are going to make an effort to talk directly to each other, rather than put you in the miserable position of having to listen to us complain about each other. If I start to criticize your mom, please remind me to talk to her directly. And if she starts to criticize me, please tell her you aren’t willing to be caught in the middle anymore, and that you need for her to talk directly to me.” I recommend talking to your groom about this right away, before you have any future interactions with his mom. After you’ve done that, then respectfully say to his mom, “From now on, I’d like for you and I to talk directly to each other instead of putting [John] in the awkward position of having to listen to his two favorite women gossip about each other.”

2. “My future mother-in-law is trying to take over all of the wedding decisions.”

Obviously your wedding is a big day for you, but it's also a big day for your fiancé’s mom. The two of you are bound to have opinions that clash, and you may be confused about how to handle that. Here are some things to consider.

Does your groom have an opinion about this decision? (Find out what he really feels, not just what he says to please you or his mom.)
Is your future mother-in-law presenting her opinion in an acceptable manner?
Is she just being controlling, or is there a valid (or sentimental) reason for her request?
Is she footing the bill?

If your sweetheart’s mom has a reasonable request, and she is presenting it in an acceptable manner, then consider bowing out of this particular decision, especially if she is paying for it and/or you ( or your man) don’t have strong feelings about it. Perhaps then she will gracefully step aside when an issue comes up that is more important to you. Letting your mother-in-law make some wedding decisions is a great way to show your groom that you love him.

If, however, your future mother-in-law is presenting her opinion as a demand-- or you and your fiancé strongly disagree with her-- then don’t encourage her self-centeredness, especially if she isn’t paying the bill. You (or preferably your groom) can respectfully tell her, “Thanks for your input, but I/we have decided to [do this instead].” If she objects, remain calm and say, “You’re entitled to your opinion, but the decision has been made.” If she still won’t back off, tell her you aren’t willing to discuss it anymore and ask if there is something else she’d like to talk about instead.

3. “She acts offended whenever I don’t say or do exactly what she thinks I should.”

Just because your mother-in-law doesn’t approve of the date of the wedding, the location of the reception, the wording on the invitations, or the color of the flowers doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. She may be choosing to be offended so she can manipulate you with guilt until you center the entire wedding around her The next time she makes a negative comment about a decision she isn’t entitled to make, say “I’m sorry you’re upset, but I’ve already made my decision.” If she continues to object, say “This isn’t your decision, and it’s not up for negotiation. Is there something else you’d like to talk about instead?”

Think of every wedding predicament as an opportunity to behave as an equal adult, while at the same time growing closer to your future husband. Value his opinions and work toward loving compromises so the two of you can present a united front to family and friends. Be assertive with his mom when necessary --rather than holding silent grudges or gossiping about her-- and communicate your needs in a way that makes him proud to be your groom.

Jenna D. Barry is the author of “A Wife's Guide to In-laws: How to Gain Your Husband's Loyalty Without Killing His Parents.” Her articles appear regularly in magazines and websites worldwide. She also leads an encouraging support group for daughters-in-law. For more information, please visit her website at www.WifeGuide.org.

We Heart Poms!

2009-04-09T12:12:00.009-04:00

I could run around saying that word all day! POM! POM! POM POM POM!

I was asked a couple of days ago for some ideas for decorating a bridal shower and poms (!!) are what instantly flew into my head. Simple, inexpensive and exactly what the doctor ordered for a gloomy day! These suckers are a cinch to make, so there's really no excuse for not having them plastered all over your house... and that bridal shower you're throwing!

Martha Stewart has the best instructions for making them, so let's all grab a fluffy pillow and learn!

1. Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inch wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

4. Tie a length of monofilament to floral wire for hanging.

And here are some pictures, for the visual learners out there!:

Wonderful! These little bursts of perfection can be made into... wait for it... NAPKIN RINGS. I seriously just think I died a little on the inside!

The best things in life are free...

2009-03-29T23:17:00.010-04:00

We all want something for free right?

I know I carry around points cards to about 30 different places.

I also have a credit card that gives me points on every purchase I make.

Groceries, cosmetics, gas, every once in awhile you end up with a little extra from the places you regularly shop at.

It's like a mini shopping spree!

So, why not apply this to your wedding planning?

If you have saved 60% or more of your wedding budget, why not get a consumer credit card that gives you points towards vacations, furniture, a home renovation store etc.?

You can even get a points card that you can use towards RRSP's, RESP's or even your mortgage!

If you are budget conscience and have a good portion of the wedding saved for, then this is a great opportunity to add to your new life together!

Just make sure you pay your balance every month and close the card once you have collected/used the points you acquire!

So, whether it's a new couch or a few hundred dollars towards your retirement, or tickets to that tropical honeymoon you've been dreaming of, reward cards are a great consideration to work into your planning.

Happy Spending!

Our House, in the Middle of Our Street..

2009-03-06T10:39:00.006-05:00

Let's start off with an apology for the lack of blogging done in the past few weeks, we're sorry!

Now that that is out of the way, we bring you our Feature Guest: Jamie McGinty.

We know as well as you do the costs associated with weddings, and often along with the wedding planning comes life planning as well.

A new home together is very often the second big budget item on a newlyweds list, and it can be overwhelming, time consuming and EXPENSIVE to find your 'love nest'.

Jamie is a sales rep with Royal LePage Complete Realty in Alliston, ON.
A knowledgeable and friendly guy, he is able to assist you with every aspect of real estate.

Jamie has sent some tips along to help you through your journey in house hunting.

We will feature Jamie again in a few months with more tips and tricks for everyone, and thank him for being a part (and amazing resource) of The Wedding Belles blog!

To reach Jamie, you can visit his website at: www.jamiemcginty.com

Or by phone at: Office: 705-435-3000 or on his cell: 705-440-9440

Thanks so much Jamie!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming!

Don't Be Cruel..

2009-02-17T12:48:00.004-05:00

Here are a handful of ideas to help keep your dress selections eco-friendly!

Stay tuned for next week - we will be featuring eco-friendly designers and their gorgeous dress creations!

Trade in the traditional white – your wedding dress wasn't born that white!
Toxic chemicals (and a lot of them!) are used to achieve that blinding brilliance. Dresses made from natural, eco-friendly fabrics like soy, hemp and organic cotton are available to most designers for a fairly similar price point.

Fair is fair – do some research and find out if the manufacturer of your dress supports fair trade. Everyone deserves decent wages, adequate benefits and a healthy work environment!

Don't sweat it – sweatshopwatch.org can help you find out if your dress manufacturer is keeping on the straight and narrow when it comes to fair business practices!

Double the enjoyment - buy dresses (both for yourself and for your bridesmaids) that can be worn again, or altered into a flirty cocktail dress! Or, if you're in the giving mood you can donate your dresses to a local women's shelter and give a hand to those in need.

Clean up the clean up – check with your dry cleaner and see if they offer eco-friendly dry cleaning services. Make sure your gown is wrapped in non-dyed paper (rather than plastic!) and stored in a box that does not contain a viewing window.
Store in a cool, dry area of your home.

We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way...

2009-02-01T17:25:00.002-05:00

ok, so show of hands, who's getting sick of winter?

It has been cold, snowy, and grey for a few too many months now.

And it's that odd time between holidays and spring where everyone is in hibernation mode.

All the more reason to throw a party! Get your friends off the couch and let's have some fun!

A creative theme is a wonderful addition to a party at this time of year because it sets your party apart. Theme parties can help keep you organized by linking the food, decor and music to one place and tells your guests what to expect, what to bring and what to wear.

Here are some tips for hosting your very own indoor beach party:

Write a list! Include # of guests, budget and any ideas you have or want incorporated. Try and engage all the 5 senses. Sights, tastes, smells, sounds and touch, they make your party something to remember and engage your guests at the same time.

Invitations can be anything with a beach feel. Post cards with star fish, sand, sun, waves - you can even send invites in a bottle!

Get your guests in beach mode by having everyone wear board shorts, t-shirts and flip flops. (Make room for them to change once they arrive, bear in mind, parkas will be worn to get to you!)

Decorate your tables with tropical fruit, sea shells, flowers (birds of paradise, hibiscus etc.), palm fronds etc.

There are so many great ideas at the Dollar Store, so not only can your party look beachy, it doesn't have to cost you a fortune!

Your menu can include jerk chicken, coconut ice cream, tonnes of fruit! And don't forget tropical drinks! (Both alcoholic and non) Beer, mojitos, daiquiri's, margaritas, anything cool and refreshing works!

Play music or rent music videos that incorporate reggae, calypso, soca etc. Keep them on in the background, never louder than a conversation. Your guests should be able to enjoy the lively sound without having to scream over it.

You can do ANYTHING your heart desires with a theme party.

At this time of year, a beach party is almost as good as the real beach, not to mention it's a lot less expensive and everyone can be there!

ENJOY!

Birds of a feather...

2009-01-26T12:50:00.008-05:00

Hey Everyone,
Happy Monday!

This week's post is an easy one, as our feature 'guest' has done all the work for us.

Another fabulous find, this time brought to us by Erin at Coco Boudoir.

When we discovered these gorgeous creations, we knew right away that they would be a feature item for us.

Great for parties, weddings or a night on the town Erin's creations of hair accessories are the perfect finishing touch!

We wanted to find out what inspired her creations, and where we could get our hands on 'em!

Have a look:
"I started off playing around with feathers, vintage jewels and flowers to make pretty and interesting hair pieces, and my customers quickly steered me in the direction of bridal pieces and custom requests.
I love to do custom designs for my brides and their wedding parties, and the process is very laid back and fun.
Whether it be a small subtle hair comb, or a dramatic fascinator, my designs aim to capture the style and personality of my brides and the vision they have for their wedding day.
I only use quality feathers and flowers, and all of my vintage jewelry is one-of-a-kind originals."

Find more of Erin's beautiful work at: http://www.cocoboudoir.etsy.com/
Or e-mail her directly at: cocoboudoir@rogers.com

Thanks so much Erin!

Have a great week everyone!

These are a few of my favourite things...

2009-01-19T23:13:00.006-05:00

As wedding planners, Ash and I are CONSTANTLY 'researching'.
I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked if I was getting married thanks to my 50 pound purchases of bridal magazines!

Ideas, inspiration, and because, dagnabbit, it's FUN!

We are always on the lookout for unique, fresh, fun things to use for the next wedding, event, party we're planning.

The one place we ALWAYS seem to hit a wall with is Groom/Groomsmen attire.

It is incredibly tough to find alternatives to the suit rental!

Especially knowing that not a lot of people actually want to own a tux.

So, in our constant search for great ideas (and, to be honest, for a summer wedding we're planning) we would like to share with you an amazing find.

Ties. Silk. Hand Screened. 'Ties That Don't Suck' By 'toybreaker'.

Be Forewarned boys, these are not your grandfather/thrift store numbers either.

There are so many print and colour options to choose from that they will work for everything from wedding to work to Wednesday.

Not only that, they also make great attendant gifts!

You can get the ties in matching colours and change up the print to suit the guy wearing it or let everyone choose their favourite!
And, if that's not enough, they are priced VERY well.

$40 a pop, shipped in a gift box!

It's about time menswear for weddings got personal.

Enjoy!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

2009-01-12T21:44:00.000-05:00

Don't get stuck with white on your wedding day!

Adding colour to your dress isn't off limits - play peekaboo with your crinoline! If the dress you bought doesn't leave room for any punches of colour, or you don't want to get stuck with a massive seamstress bill, why not hand dye (or buy!) a crinoline.

Having a splash of vibrant colour (whether it matches your theme or personality) is an inexpensive and subtle way to pack punch! Plus, who says a girl doesn't feel a little saucy when she's got a secret!

Whether it peeks out below your dress during the party, or acts as your inner peacock for your pictures, a coloured crinoline is just what the doctor ordered to cure that wedding dress white-wash.
The most popular way to do this is using Rit dye, which sells for just over $2 per box and comes with easy-to-follow instructions right on the package.

The easiest technique is to fill your washing machine with hot water and dye and then follow the instructions on the box to add dye and rinse when necessary. The process may take a few hours, but can be done in one day. Just don't forget to clean out your washing machine so the leftover dye doesn't stain your next load of laundry. Remember: the longer your crinoline sits in the dye, the darker the colour will be.

If doing it yourself makes you a little queasy, you can always check out your local costume store to see what they have available.