This classic origami fold, which your guests will fold up to tuck in a pocket or purse, beautifully opens up again when they get home. By adding your wedding date, names or special message, the gift becomes even more poignant. Traditionally associated with good health and well wishes, the crane makes a lovely mix of traditional meaning and modern simplicity.

Remember that the best cranes are made with origami paper which comes in many styles and colours to suit your colour palette. For your first attempt, you might want to start with a six inch square piece of paper, or something larger. Once you get the hang of the fold, try a range of sizes to find what you like the best.

By Stephanie Sturino

This DIY can be done in any word processing program, we did ours in Word, just be sure to print your final items onto quality paper for a polished look, try specialty stores like The Paper Place. We chose a heavy card-stock paper in a shimmery off-white.

Method

• Using the online collection of botanical illustrations from the New York Public Library, link below, copy and paste a favourite image into a blank document.
• Next, select a font for the text. On our samples we used a soft and elegant font to give a more sophisticated feel, look at font download sites like dafont.com for inspiration. Be sure to set your image behind your text, so the number can be sit on top of the image. Colour and size of the font is up to you, try to coordinate with your colour palette. Once you’ve perfected your image, print and test for size. We chose to cut down our image to a 5″x7″.
• We love the idea of having different but coordinating frames for each table. Shop local antique markets for vintage inspiration. We also created a sample without a frame that can be incorporated into a centerpiece or sit neatly in a place-card holder, we used a plastic cube holder. The key to this alternative is the double layer of heavy card-stock, which helps it stand straight. To do this, simply measure out a rectangle about half an inch bigger than your image and secure the two with glue. We also used a rounded cut-out for our corners, a variety of design cut-outs can be found at any local craft store.
• Alternatively, use tear outs from botanical art calendars or old books to avoid any computer programs and print or stamp a number on to them.

Notes on Sources: Botanical Art at the New York Public Libraries link, DaFont

Saja, the ultimate in ethereal and beautifully simplistic wedding gowns, has made its way across the border and into the hands of boutique owner Cynthia Martyn (Sash & Bustle). The effortlessly elegant Spring 2010 collection from New York designer Yoo Lee has made a lasting impact on the non-traditional gown, and is now at the fingertips of Toronto brides-to-be. “Charming, dreamy and romantic,” describes Cynthia, who fell hopelessly in love with the small collection and is proud to say that she is its exclusive retailer in Toronto.

Saja offers an 8-dress collection of soft, airy fabrics, sweet details and simple, elegant silhouettes. Sash & Bustle has six of the eight dresses for now, and is expecting the other designs soon. The collection is getting a great reaction and a number of the dresses have been selected by brides who are planning a local-destination wedding in Picton, an upcoming hot-spot within beautiful Prince Edward County.

Constructed from 100% natural fabrics; most of the styles are made from a warm ivory crinkle-sheer silk organza, which gives the gowns their airiness and ease.  That effortless look and flow makes the Saja gowns ideal for warm weather destination brides who are looking for a simple bridal alternative. The gowns fall slightly away from the body, making them comfortable in hot weather, but also forgiving and flattering to most body types. The fabric also lends itself to travelling well, as it folds with ease and only needs a quick steaming on the day of the wedding.

A part of the collection’s airy beauty is its light price tag. All the gowns in the collection are less than $1,500, making it a lot easier to snag that perfect dress!

Notes: All images courtesy of Saja where the whole collection is available for viewing, including their gorgeous bridesmaid dresses which aren’t available in Canada yet, also check out Sash & Bustle

With a history spanning close to 100 years, the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre is the last operating double-decker theatre in the world. Built in 1913 and nestled in the heart of the city, the magnificent Edwardian style theatre offers a glimpse at the city’s cultural history and roaring past.

The Winter Garden Theatre

Today, the restored theatre, a National Historic Site, includes a variety of rental spaces, including the extraordinary opportunity of hosting a dinner reception on the stage of the Winter Garden theatre. Definitely a must for those couples that wish to revel in the spotlight, the stage offers space for an intimate dinner of 80 people. A seat on the famous vaudeville-era stage presents a panoramic view of the grand outdoor-garden themed theatre along with the contrasting scenery of backstage theatre production, which includes stage ropes and trussing. With hand painted walls meant to resemble an outdoor garden, and its ceiling a collection of natural beech leaves and twinkling lanterns, the Winter Garden is some kind of Midsummer Night’s fantasy.

The theatre centre offers other spaces such as their cascading lobbies and larger lounges that can hold up to 200 people.

Snapshot

Location: 189 Yonge Street

The grand staircase

Contact: Kevin Harris 416-314-3585

First Impressions: vintage, enchantingly intimate, a theatrically grand space

Capacity: Winter Garden Theatre Stage, 80 people for sit down; Largest lounge – Thomas Lamb Lounge – 200 people for sit down

Facilities: Couples receive basic facilities with rental of space, there is no kitchen

Venue Price: Stage: $2,900 flat rate for evening; All lounges are $800 per four hours

Exclusive caterers: Daniel et Daniel, Encore Food with Elegance; Herrera’s Catering; Urban Fare Catering; 10tation Catering

Perfect Shot: The vintage box office at the entrance of the theatre with the backdrop of the fast-paced city street captures that perfect mix of old and new. Also, the outright grandeur of the main staircase can create the ultimate classic shot.

Notes: A Special Occasion Permit from the LCBO is required, and must be obtained by the host.

Collection: Ines Di Santo, 2010

Dress: Crystal Encrusted Mini

Veronica Di Santo, Ines Di Santo and Catherine

This is just the spot for a couple looking to celebrate with an historic, rather than a vintage twist. And while it’s location makes for incredible photographs and the history of the building deems it an important landmark in our city’s history – it was the site of many of the negotiations regarding the underground railroad, the 150 year old design {smallish bar area, kitchen and cocktail areas} must be taken into consideration. For many reasons though, this is a venue that’s perfect for the quintessential Torontonian couple.

Venue Snapshot

Name: St. Lawrence Hall: The Great Hall

Location: 157 King St. East, Toronto

Contact: Special Events Co-ordinator, St. Lawrence Market Complex, (416)392-7130,  market@stlawrencemarket.com

First Impression: Stately and classic

Age: Built in 1850 and completely restored in 1967

Price: A rate card is here, but on most weekend evenings, The Great Hall rents for $1,100 with a $400 additional fee to have the space from 12 noon.

Capacity: The Great Hall can accommodate 120 for dinner and dancing.

Facilities: A small kitchen (no ventilation is a downside and a reminder of the age of the building) and a freight elevator.

Great Spot for a Portrait: Anywhere in the nearby neighbourhood would make a great urban image. And if you’re not renting the venue for your wedding but you’re in the area, the building is owned by the city and is usually unlocked during business hours – it’s always worth checking!

Photos courtesy of the St. Lawrence Hall/

Collection: Sarah Houston 2010
Dress: Sapphire
Notes: Very hard to tell from this photo but there is a blue underlay to this dress. It was the most exciting moment of the collection. The colour came from her aunt’s wedding dress and I loved the feather details at the bottom and the lace, it had a wonderful vintage feel to it.

Sapphire

Catherine and Sarah

Collection: Adele Wechsler Eco Couture Collection
Dress name: Cypress
Details: 100% vegetable dyed silk, Guipure lace; Colour: Sandstone

Notes: Loved the lace and colour on this dress

Cypress

Catherine (left), Adele (right) and model

This would be a great spot for a turnkey 30-100 person wedding. The restaurant’s manager, Gemma Muscillo, says most couples bring flowers for the tables but aside from that, the more casual bar area is already decorated to the hilt with photographs, mirrors and sconces on the walls and an eclectic set of distressed furniture, while the dining room, referred to as  the ‘Opera Room’ has a beautiful neutral grey palette, massive windows and unique light fixtures that leave the space feeling complete, but not overdone.

The Opera Room

Snapshot

Name: CaFfinO

Location: 1185 King Street West (just east of Dufferin)

Contact: Gemma Muscillo, Manager, (416) 588-7920, gemma@caffino.ca

First Impression: Romantic, easy and warm in an urban environment

Age: The restaurant is 15-years-old but the building it’s situated in has heritage written all over it.

Price: Because the menus are all tailor-made, Gemma didn’t have a standard rate but dinner for 100 at $50-$60 per person is doable. Anything less and rental fees will be charged. Prices are based on food alone, there is no minimum bar tab.

Capacity: In the Opera Room, 80 can be seated nicely (leaving the second room for cocktails), with a tent attached to the Opera Room, 130 is the maximum.

Facilities: Being a restaurant, CaFfino has a full kitchen and bar, no special permits are necessary. They also have chairs, silver, stemware and linen if you choose, or they can arrange for rentals.

Great Spot for a Portrait: No matter where you situate it, it’s going to be hard not to have the backdrop of the incredible old architecture of the area.

First floor and Second Floor three-sided balcony

In the meantime, if you’re able to plan your do in a few short months, The Burroughes Building might be just the spot.

This is a place that can go posh or party-wild, while it does evoke a commercial, almost industrial feel, the age of the building makes it feel more polished than the usual. Each space is divided into smaller areas: the 6th floor has access to the roof, the second floor balcony looks over the first floor and the middle floors are divided by the remaining parts of the original exterior walls (an addition was added in 1910) – because of this, you can move your party from one space to another for cocktails, dinner and dancing or let your guests spread out.

A Snapshot of the Space

Name: The Burroughes Building, currently owned by Queen Street Partners

Location: 639 Queen Street West & Bathurst

Contact: Jen Foster, Director, Corporate Partnerships, StyleforStyle Jen@styleforstyle.ca 647.218.3380

First Impression: Gorgeous polished floors, great architectural elements and a wonderful vintage elevator, the toilets are on the small side, and  the rooftop patio has lots of potential.

Age: Renovated recently but built around the turn of the last century.

Price: Rental fees weren’t available for this posting but they do require you get insurance and will charge a $500 clean up fee.

Capacity: On each floor, approximately 100-150 people, on the rooftop, 100 standing

Facilities: This is a straight up venue so there’s no kitchen, very little storage space, no rentals and you have to get yourself a Special Occasions Permit; the nice thing is, you can do everything exactly the way you want.

Great Spot for a Portrait: Against the original exterior wall where the original store’s logo has faded over the years.