You Went to Bridal Expo – Now What?

Bridal Expo 2010 was held in Calgary today! It was a wonderful gathering of some of the more prominent wedding vendors from Calgary and surrounding areas all under one roof. There was much to see, many deals to be had, and tons of décor ideas. The brides came by the hundreds, many accompanied by grooms, mothers, and close friends. While it was great to see so many of you, I know a number of you mentioned feeling overwhelmed at times with such an overload of information. Here’s how to make the most effective use of your time at Bridal Expo:

1. You collected bags, brochures, and business cards by the armloads. Make a point of going through them during the next couple of days while things are still relatively fresh in your mind. Make notes and put ones you want to follow up with in one pile. Sort through the others and either discard or keep as a possibility to follow up with at a later time. The longer you put it off and avoid it, the more it will all blur together. Get it done sooner rather than later!



Creative Weddings and Occasions Booth Bridal Expo 2010 – Romantic Fantasy – Photo courtesy of M. MacRae

2. Figure out what your biggest priorities are and contact a vendor or two to move forward and set-up a follow-up appointment. Bridal Expo is great, but it was too crazy to have a clear conversation and get a firm idea about services and cost. Find a mutually convenient time to sit down with your chosen vendor and get the information you require. 
3. You saw how many people were at Bridal Expo. All of them are getting married and are looking for vendors too! The sooner you book an appointment, the better chance you have of finding a vendor available on your wedding date. (The longer you wait, the longer you may have to wait for an appointment time as vendors’ schedules fill up fast. After all, we’re still in wedding season!)



Creative Weddings and Occasions Booth Bridal Expo 2010 – Romantic Fantasy – Photo courtesy of M. MacRae

4. Make a note of any décor ideas that you liked. It might have been related to colors, objects, centerpieces, or even a place card. Try to remember who had what and make notes. When you meet with a decorator, a description of what you liked makes it much easier to help put all of your ideas together into develop them into one cohesive vision.
5. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help! As a wedding planner, I have the great opportunity to work with a variety of vendors in and around the Calgary area. I know many of the quality vendors and can point you in the right directions right away. Even if you don’t think you need a full wedding planner, an hour-long phone call or appointment might be exactly what you need to send you on your way.



Creative Weddings and Occasions Booth Bridal Expo 2010 – Romantic Fantasy – Photo courtesy of M. MacRae.

There was a lot of information for engaged couples to process at Bridal Expo. It was a fabulous opportunity for you to meet a wide variety of wedding vendors and get a feel for some of their work, but now it’s time for the follow up in order to make the best use of your time.

If you need help, don’t hesitate to call us at 403-619-0528 or e-mail info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

Real Weddings – Mike and Melanie’s Vintage Valentine’s Day Wedding

Mike is a little bit country, while Melanie is more the sophisticated city girl. They started out as friends, and it blossomed into a wonderful love story. Ironically, they chose to get married on Valentine’s Day, but did not want their wedding filled with cutesy hearts and cupids. In fact, they had some very strong ideas to make their wedding uniquely their own in order to create a wonderful celebration that was a true representation of them!

Mike and Melanie wanted to make their wedding uniquely their own. – Photo courtesy of Edward Ross Photography.

Breaking with tradition, they chose to do their wedding pictures before the ceremony. By doing their photos ahead of time, both the bride and groom look fresh for their pictures. It also limited the time that guests will had to wait between the ceremony and reception. They were fortunate to work with Edward Ross of Edward Ross Photography. After taking some incredible photos at the Calgary’s Fairmont Palliser Hotel, he took them down Stephen Avenue Mall for some urban shots. It was a brisk -25°C, but the bride and groom held up well under the extreme temperatures and the pictures were absolutely stunning!
Ask your photographer for suggestions on where to get incredible photos. 

A great photographer will have a wealth of ideas that you have probably never even considered. – Photos courtesy of Edward Ross Photography.

The ceremony started at 5:30 PM at Wild Rose United Church. This beautiful church is located just outside Calgary’s downtown core, with gorgeous stained glass windows and a majestic pipe organ that fills the front of the sanctuary. While some might see it as problematic, the couple took full advantage of the double aisle, deciding to have both sets of their parents precede each of them down the aisle. As they walked in together, the bride and groom only had eyes for each other. Reverend Linda Hunter performed a beautiful ceremony with many personal touches and heartfelt moments. Purposefully choosing not to have attendants, Mike and Melanie had their mothers sign the marriage certificate while their fathers performed readings, making their ceremony a real family affair!

The ceremony took place at Wild Rose United Church. – Photo courtesy of Edward Ross Photography.

Photo courtesy of Edward Ross Photography.

Afterward, everyone immediately headed over to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce for the reception. The Enmax Ballroom was jaw-droppingly gorgeous in black and white with accents of red, thanks to Firefly Occasions. White ostrich plumes were used in the sconces of the perimeter of the art deco space, while alternating tall and short floral centerpieces decorated the tables. Elegant linens were brought in from California’s La Tavola Linens and were paired with beautiful black chair covers. Red satin napkins were used as an accent color, along with place-cards and table and menu cards printed by Glimpz Invitations.

Photo courtesy of Edward Ross Photography.

Instead of a traditional head table, the couple opted to have a sweetheart table for two, positioned right in the center of the room. What a great way for a couple to start their life together as husband and wife by sharing their first meal as just the two of them. Romantic, yet sweet at the same time!

One special touch that I really loved, and Mike and Melanie’s only nod to Valentine’s Day, was to name each table after a “great love in history”. Tables were named after fictional couples, such as Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, and Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. Others were named after real loves in history, like George and Gracie Burns, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III, and Napoleon and Josephine. Even the kids’ table were named quite appropriately, Mickey and Minnie, and Bart and Marge Simpson. We wrote each love story on the back of the table card, giving guests some light reading throughout the evening.

Photo courtesy of Edward Ross Photography.

Breaking with tradition, Mike and Melanie also decided to forgo having a wedding cake. The Calgary Chamber’s pastry chef instead prepared a decadent chocolate mousse treat, complete with the couples’ monogram to satisfy the wedding guests’ desire for something sweet. After only one bite, everyone raved about their choice.

It was a beautiful wedding! Mike and Melanie’s wedding was everything they imagined and more. It was a pleasure to work with this couple in making their wedding day a dream come true! Special thanks to the vendors that contributed and helped make this event possible, including Edward Ross Photography, Wild Rose United Church, Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Glimpz Invitations, Firefly Occasions, and Grasmere Garden & Floral.

Congratulations to Mike and Melanie! Best wishes and happiness always! – Photo courtesy of Edward Ross Photography.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.


Two Alternatives To The Traditional Wedding Reception

Newly engaged couples often sit down to begin planning their wedding. They have big dreams and stars in their eyes. However, often enough those exciting ideas are quickly tossed aside once they start figuring out the huge costs that are associated with having the big wedding reception they always imagined. First there is the cost of renting the venue. Probably the biggest expense is the food, which is normally a plated dinner or even a buffet, followed closely by the alcohol expense. Then there is the cost of entertainment, which usually means hiring a DJ or a band. Finally, there is the décor. When most couples start adding up the figures, it causes a lot of concern. How do they have the wedding reception that they want without the price-tag to match?

I think the first thing to remember is that the purpose of a wedding reception is for your guests to join with you in celebrating that the two of you have committed your lives to one another. It is a party to celebrate your marriage, but what you have to remember is that the party can take a variety of forms. Better yet, some of these forms will be able to save you money and make your wedding dreams more attainable than you ever imagined.

Cocktails Reception

One option to consider is to have a late afternoon or evening ceremony followed by an elegant cocktail reception. Create a lounge space with minimal furnishing that encourages your guests to visit and socialize. Servers can bring out trays of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres or maybe set up different food stations around the room. Perhaps you would prefer to set-up a dessert bar with a variety of decadent treats to satisfy any person’s sweet tooth. Whatever you choose, your food costs will be less than paying for a full dinner meal. A trio of jazz musicians off to one side can perform ambient background music or bring in that DJ who will really get the party started. It can be the black-tie affair you want, but without the price tag.

A lounge space is not only trendy, but a great way to utilize an open-spaced area. Guests can have the option of socializing or dancing in a club-like atmosphere.

Morning Brunch

Another option is to have a morning ceremony with either a brunch or lunch reception. Your food costs associated with either breakfast or lunch is usually much less than the price of having a dinner reception. Perhaps you might have a signature drink, like a mimosa, or perhaps you would choose to only serve local beers, but another added benefit of a brunch wedding will be reduced alcohol costs. A classical guitarist or a pianist could be hired to play background music, but you won’t have the additional costs of a DJ. Whether you choose an indoor or an outdoor venue, this can be a wonderful way to spend a weekend morning, especially if your wedding includes families and children.

A brunch wedding is more friendly than formal. It sets a welcoming tone that your guests will appreciate as they spend a wonderful morning together.

There are lots of great ideas out there that can let you have the wedding reception you want. Sometimes, you just have to be able to think outside the box, or know someone who can help you get there.

If you’re interested in getting started in planning your wedding, contact us at Creative Weddings and Occasions.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

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