Last weekend at The Gladstone, an historic, boutique hotel on Queen West in Toronto, The Puzzle Room {one of the hotel’s thematically decorated rooms}, became the site for a boudoir marathon.

Ellen Ho, a successful wedding and portrait photographer in Vancouver began shooting boudoir photography almost a year ago when she and Ai Nagasawa, a freelance MAC makeup artist began experimenting with models in a modern boudoir environment. Now, Ho’s boudoir marathons – weekend-long photoshoots of men, women and couples – have become highly popular and while October marked her first Toronto marathon, she’s already planning a return visit.

Considering the increasing popularity of boudoir photography, Ho says she’s always surprised when people don’t understand what it’s really about and she loves to challenge the preconceived notions of vanity and shyness that people have about ‘undressed’ photography and she prefers to suggest that one’s lifestyle and personality can be beautifully exposed during a boudoir session. She loves witnessing when her client’s perspective changes and they go from feeling self-conscious to feeling sexy.

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Empty your lungs with a great big sigh. Then, with one unstressed, unhurried breath, inhale. Direct the air first into the bottom part of your lungs  – your diaphragm will push out – then concentrate on filling your middle lungs – your rib cage will push out- and finally fill the top of your chest. When you exhale, consciously release your breath from your chest, then from your ribs and finally, from your diaphragm.

Viola, three part breathing and instant stress-relief.

Elana Millman practices wellness therapy in Toronto combining Holistic Nutrition, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Acupressure and Energy work with traditional Chinese medicine techniques and methodology to turn stressed, sick and pained clients into happy, vibrant, healthy people.

Don’t ‘bee’ afraid to have some fun with your theme even when it comes to writing notes, cards or tags — a little word play can bring some humour into your wedding and get your guests thinking.

"Bitty Bee"

I love these little letter stamps, they create the perfectly imperfect personal statement. As for bee stamps I couldn’t find any in Toronto that I loved, but I found this “Bitty Bees” set at Rubber Stamping Fun, the only problem is they don’t ship to Canada.

We love this sweet and simple mini honey favour from E&M Gold Beekeepers' Etsy shop: emwedding; look for a beekeeper in your area to find locally produced honey for yourself and your guests.

Honey’s healing properties have been documented since the time of Cleopatra. It is excellent for treating throat and chest infections, it can do wonders to tame your mane, and it is an essential addition to your natural beauty routine. A honey mask is marvellous for treating acne, redness, and inflammation.

In the science of longevity, Russian beekeepers are being studied because they are substantially exceeding the average life expectancy of those around them. It’s believed that their above average honey-intake is the likely reason for their longer, healthier lives.

Honey tones, it rejuvenates and it tastes wonderful! Eat it. Use it. Enjoy nature’s sweetest healer.

Elana Millman is a wellness therapist in Toronto who turns stressed out, sick and pained clients into happy vibrant, healthy people. She combines Holistic Nutrition, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Acupressure and Energy work along with traditional Chinese medicine techniques and methodology to get results. Stress, pain, suffering pack their bags and are replaced with joy, tranquility and ease.

It’s theme week again, this week we have chosen to bring you anything and everything related to honey. Whether you like honey or not, be inspired by the ideas we present and apply it to your own theme.

Feel free to send in a picture of you and your ‘honey’ and we’ll post it as our picture of the week. If you are doing anything honey related for your wedding, we’d love to know about it!

A wonderful honey-inspired window at Anthropologie in New York City

A rose is a rose or a hat, or a symbol, or a hair piece or an inspiring colour. I was given this rose from Frank Rea from Forget Me Not Flowers, he told me when it opened that I would be amazed by its size and beauty and he was right.

Explore Mother Nature’s beauty and create a signature piece for yourself: be it a stunning hair piece, the graphic on your invitation or the most spectacular ice sculpture.

Mother Nature's beauty

When I saw this flower I instantly thought of the hat the model is wearing on the cover of the current Wedluxe magazine, you never know where your inspiration will come from.