Snap & Tumble Thank-You card

Writing thank-you notes isn’t necessarily a difficult task but it can sure be time-consuming. It’s important, when sitting down to write a thank-you note, to take the time to reflect on your wedding day and how that particular person made it memorable.

A few other things to remember when writing a thank-you note:

1. Write one, even if it is late. It’s best if you can get them done within three to four weeks of the event.
2. Hand-write each thank-you note (no mass emails allowed!).
3. Be sure you mention the actual gift received and how you have or are planning to use it.
4. If you receive money, tell them how you intend to spend it.
5. If you didn’t particularly like the gift, focus on how much you appreciated them attending the wedding or shower.
6. If they sent a gift but were not able to attend your wedding, say how sorry you are they were not able to make it and you look forward to seeing them in the future.
7. Do not, I repeat, do not have guests address their own thank-you card envelopes at a party. This is very distasteful.

The best approach to making sure you get the job done is to break it up, do not try to write them all in one sitting and make sure it’s a team effort. This is not a one-person job.

Reference: The Wedding Book by Mindy Weiss

Photograph by: Tanya Roberts of Snap and Tumble

A custom boarding pass save the date from Sproulliedesigns

When it comes to putting a wedding together at a distance, the lines of communication need to be open at all times. And you need to be as upfront and early as possible with guest-related information as possible. The earlier you can nail down your dates, recommend a hotel and suggest what activities people can plan for, the more likely you’ll get your full guest list ‘on-board.’

Hint: Hotel, flight and a rough idea of the events you’re planning should be made clear to your guests at the 6 month mark, either with the save the date or as a separate package!

Coral, Red, Vintage Gold and Peacock Blue Passport Invitation, Peacock Invitations

Destination weddings to tend to be less formal than their at-home counterparts and there’s no better way to convey your lightness-of-heart and excitement for the big day than through your invitations — your official and easiest way of communicating with your guests. I just love this classic idea of the passport-style invitation, not only does it evoke the sense of travel (obviously) but it shouts ‘lets go have fun’ and also includes LOTS of space for important information, from hotels, to maps, to planned activities to flight numbers and dress codes. The boarding pass save-the-date is also fun, and again, can convey a whole bunch of important information in one {cute} fell swoop.

Another take on the passport invitation from anaderoux

Without further ado, and in light of our ‘you’re engaged, now what?’ theme for this week, a fun Save The Date idea that’s got a little Do It Yourself built in …

Consider getting a custom silhouette created for $10 of the two of you from le papier studio (Etsy). Use the high-resolution JPEG to create your very own save the date with a little text or a sweetly handwritten note on the printed image, even turn it into the front of a homemade postcard. The blend of classic style and modern simplicity of the design will have your friends and family excited for what’s to come at the event itself, and that anticipation is just what you want to create for your favourite people!

Now, when someone asks, have you managed to get your STD taken care of, you can say with a smile, you bet we do and we had so much fun!

The Wedding Co.:What are the three most important things to look for when hiring a wedding professional?

Shirley Lo-Cadotte: I would want a competent, reputable individual who is totally “me-oriented”. For competency, look at their experience, training and recent work.  Ask how many weddings have they been a part of, and where and how have they learned their profession. Ask yourself if you are impressed by their work. To determine reputation, ask for references from recent wedding clients and research them on-line to see what others have to say.  To determine if they are “me-oriented” I would look for good communication, professionalism, enthusiasm about my wedding and an overall sense that our personalities click.

TWC: Who is likely going to be the first professional a couple hires?

SL: The wedding planner of course – to save hours of scouring websites and attending shows to find the perfect venue and the best vendors. They will also help the couple stay on track and not miss any details.  However, a full service wedding planner is sometimes not in the budget and if that’s the case I would select the venue first as most are staffed by knowledgeable event coordinators who know their venues well and would likely be able to recommend vendors that they have had positive experiences with.

TWC: What kind of items should you look for in a contract with a wedding professional?

SL: Make sure all the who’s, what’s, when’s and how’s are covered in any contract you sign.  Specifically, look at hours of coverage that will be provided, product details if they are providing supplies, the name of the particular individual that will be providing the service if you have requested someone specifically; any cancellation policy (if you or the vendor cancels); any no-show policy (if the vendor does not show up); any back-up policy (if vendor is unable to be present due to unforeseen circumstances); and payment details including due dates and extra fees such as over-time and travel.

Shirley Lo-Cadotte

Shirley began her wedding planning career in sunny California three years ago and has since returned to her native  Canadian soil and launched Double Happiness Events in Toronto. With both event and catering management experience, she’s met the gamut of the wedding industry and knows what’s what.

More questions and answers available if you click to continue reading the full post.

TWC: When is it customary to pay the people who work on the day of your wedding, and does etiquette call for tipping?

SL: It is customary to pay on the day of the wedding for vendors that are providing a service to you on that day.  Tipping is optional and a reflection of the level of service that was provided to you.  If they met or exceeded your expectations, you consider the following tipping guide: Make-up/Hair – 15-25%; Officiant –$50-100+; Photographer $50-$200+; Musicians $15-20+ per musician; DJ $50-150+; Transportation 15%-20%; Planner/Coordinator $50-$200 or a personal gift

The tip may be placed in an envelope with the remaining payment for services and given either to the wedding coordinator or someone from the wedding party to distribute to the vendors as their service concludes.

TWC: What’s the best way to research potential professionals?

SL: Meet with them, look at their work (photographs, videos, or even attend an event that they are providing a service at), ask for references, the best reflection of someone’s work is what their past clients have to say about them, and see what others are saying about them, other vendors or on-line talk boards are great resources.

TWC: What’s the best way to prevent disaster when it comes to relying on so many strangers?

SL: First, hire the most reputable vendors.  Second, communicate all the details, timeline, and expectations.  Third, review all the details, timeline, and expectations.  Fourth, get everything in writing.  Fifth, follow up, follow up, follow up.

All images courtesy of Shirley Lo-Cadotte

Five questions with Sassoon’s creative director in Toronto, Lorraine McAndrew

Lorraine McAndrew, Creative Director, Sassoon

We had the opportunity to ask the woman at the helm of the Toronto-based Sassoon, a salon known for sleek, modern cuts, about current hair styles for weddings and get some top notch expert advice.

The Wedding Co.: Can you explain a little about the bob — is it iconic of the Art Deco era? — does it remain timeless?
Lorraine McAndrew: The bob was first worn in the 1920s “flapper” era. Women wore the cut to show their independence and freedom. It was often worn in loose waves or curls e.g.: Louise Brooks. Vidal Sassoon brought it back in 1950s with the straight-hair, textured precision bob. Yes; these classic looks are always timeless and never go out of style.

TWC: We love the modern version of the bob from Sassoon’s latest collection, do Deco-inspired hairstyles appear regularly in your seasonal collections?
LM: Great, classic cuts are the basis of Sassoon’s inspirations and they are creatively reinvented every year.

TWC: What about that style is so universally appealing?
LM: Classic-based styles can be worn either sophisticated or edgy and appeal to all age groups. Lengths can be adjusted to different bone structures.

"Mnemonic" from Sassoon's latest collection of looks

TWC: When it comes to her hair, what should a bride be most concerned about leading up to her wedding ?
LM: I would advise the bride to colour/cut her hair two weeks before the wedding and style it on the day of the wedding. It’s preferable not to do anything drastic on the wedding day unless the client is very confident and comfortable with big change.

TWC: What’s your favourite look for a wedding? (up, down and long, cropped…)
LM: A nice clean short bob which is soft, simple and elegant.

In dire straights over that fabulous style for your wedding day?

Tell us, by commenting on this post, about your ultimate cut and colour for your wedding, and we’ll pick one lucky winner to visit Toronto’s famous Sassoon salon for a cut with Sassoon’s creative director, Lorraine McAndrew, as well as colour with John Beeson, regional colour director. The winner will also have both a cut and colour consultation with Lorraine and John beforehand. This spectacular wedding hair makeover is valued at approximately $350.00.

Comment on this blog post to win, contest closes Monday, December 21 at 11pm, a winner will be selected at random.

By Catherine Lash

While many guests have long brought their own cameras, ten years ago it was popular to leave disposable cameras on dinner tables for guests to use and leave behind for the couple to have processed. Unfortunately, those usually ended up being predominantly of friends eating, and it was quite expensive. The one thing it guaranteed though {provided the cameras were left behind}, was that the couple always saw the photos.

Now that we’re living in a digital world, and almost every mobile phone includes a digital camera that does both stills and video, it’s no longer necessary to leave cameras out. Almost everyone has some means of taking a snapshot whether they have a camera or not. In turn, guests’ photographs are also easily uploaded to any photo-sharing software from Flickr to Facebook to share the great moments of the day. One fairly new program is called  Olapic, which was designed specifically for weddings and other shared events.

Now, rather than dealing with processing film, couples need only register at Olapic and upload their guest list. Olapic will then remind guests to bring their cameras to the wedding and then walk them through downloading high resolution images to the couple’s private account. The pictures remain private with the option of sharing via the major photo-sharing programs. This is yet another fabulous technological development that saves time, money AND the environment. Olapic can even print an album for you for that complementary ’second perspective’ to your photographer’s.

An account at Olapic is $99USD.

Olapic discovered via Springwise.

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.

“[My sessions] are not about making someone beautiful, but about the experience,” she said, recollecting a conversation with a group of male photographers who couldn’t see the difference between her work and the cover of Maxim Magazine. “What I do is about empowerment, it’s not as much for the viewer as for the subject, although the final product is important too.” And, although she readily admits she’s a bit of a control freak when it comes to poses {knowing exactly how to showcase a person’s assets} she seems to feel that by providing a fairly fast-paced and structured environment that she gets the best from her subjects – helping them to relax and focus by taking charge: “your face doesn’t look good when you’re worried about your body,” she says.

Interestingly, from her boudoir sessions with individuals and from her love of engagement sessions, Ho has begun to photograph couples’ intimate moments as well. Strangely for her, however, when there are two people in front of the camera so closely involved with one another, the shoot unfolds a little more spontaneously than with a single client: when she asks a couple to do what feels sexy and good, they are far better at being natural and she must go with the flow. She thinks the difference is about pressure, when there are two people, there is less demand to perform and another person to interact with, but overall, most of her clients aren’t confident about their bodies and have a lot of nerves at the start.

When it comes to preparing her clients for a shoot, Ho highly recommends manicures, fake eyelashes (for women) and waxing and although she’ll recommend lingerie and shoe boutiques for the ultimate in feminine dress-up, she’s aware that not all women have the same style and will suggest bringing a man’s dress shirt, a pair of shorts and a tank top as an alternative look – “it’s all about self expression and being comfortable.”

Following her boudoir marathon in Toronto, we caught up with Ho earlier this week. She said she loved the Toronto vibe but found her new clientele to be a shyer bunch than the west coast girl. Whereas her clients in Vancouver are more aware of this re-emerging style of photography, Torontonians seem to be just becoming comfortable with it. We think it’s a spectacular idea as a gift for yourself (and maybe someone special) but definitely see the trend growing in Ontario.

Ho’s prices start at $425 in Vancouver for a marathon session which lasts about an hour and a half and includes hair and makeup, her private sessions start at $600 and her Toronto marathon price was $600.

All photographs are from the Toronto boudoir marathon and are courtesy of Ellen Ho/Höng Photography

George, $72US

Beegee Bags, a collection of gorgeously sweet clutches, was founded by Brook Galardi, a self-taught hand-bag designer/sewer who has grown her company from a single DIY project to a successful, national business. The clutches are still sewn primarily by Galardi whose personal description of each bag makes her website feel like you’re reading the pages of someone’s personal design journal, rather than a catalogue.

With prices from just over $50US and a huge array of fabrics for customization, it’s no wonder Galardi’s been busy creating sets for bridesmaids, they’re the perfect thank you for the girls in your life.

Line Up Girls: Black Allium Bridesmaid Clutches, $55US each

Sprung Up Pink, $92US

DIY Instructions and the downloadable template are courtesy of Project Wedding.

To make each guide you will need:
A 17″ by 5.7″ piece of paper (the paper used here was cut from a poster size sheet purchased at Paper Source)
Approximately 8.75″ by 5.75″ piece of matching/coordinating cardstock, OR an A2 size envelope
Downloadable guide template
Printer
Pen
Tape/Glue

Assembling the guide:
(1) Print page 1 and 2 of the .pdf template on either side of the 17″ by 5.7″ paper. Take time to familiarize yourself with your printer’s settings – printing on unconventional size paper can be tricky. You will have to change the settings to indicate a custom paper size.
(2) Once printed, accordian fold the paper to create a booklet as shown.

Making the envelope sleeve:
(1) The guide is sized such that it will fit into a standard size A2 envelope. However, here we’ve made our own, open-ended sleeve by folding a piece of cardsock around the guide, leaving a small tab for gluing. Open ends are secured by wrapping address labels around the sides as shown.

To complete and give each guide here are some suggestions on what to include: (illustration below)
(1) – Printed photos and when applicable fabric swatches, for bridesmaid dresses, shoes and accessories. Even if you plan to let your bridesmaids chose their own dresses, think of this as a good resource to guide them in their search. Providing fabric swatches in the colors and textures you prefer will help ensure that all members of your bridal party are on the same aesthetic wavelength.
(2) – Business cards, and a glassine envelope (5) to tuck them into. If you’re all getting hair done together, why not include the salon’s business card for reference? Cards from the dress shop, tailor or relevant vendors might also be handy.
(3) and (4) – These bridesmaid’s guides can be mailed using appropriate postage and the address labels included in the downloadable template. You can print the labels on adhesive paper, or just use plain paper and affix with a glue stick.
(6) and (7) – If you’ll be hand delivering these guides you can finish them off with a ribbon tie and an oval label (also from the template).

Additional tips:
- Use the “Dates” page to note important dates leading up to the wedding such as shopping trips, dress fitting, hair appointments, etc.
- Note the bridesmaids/maid of honor cell numbers and emails to keep everyone connected.

Andrew Bannecker: The Hummingbird and the Horse

Looking for a spot to register for stuff you’ll really love? Think of CultureLabel as the great giftshop in the sky; it’s a newly launched website where you can shop for the best loot from some of the coolest museums, galleries and other cultural institutions, like Britain’s Royal Parks Foundation, all in one place.

The English-based website is still in Beta but they’re on the right track with a fabulous and growing selection of books, limited edition prints, housewares and garden accessories from the Tate, the V&A and other superior cultural bodies – while most are based in Britain, there are deals in the works to expand the collection.

Montague/Capulet Mugs

The super easy and friendly website not set up as a registry yet – but an email from Simon Cronshaw, CultureLabel’s Director, confirmed that a wishlist function will soon be included where you can create and manage lists – in the meantime, we suggest creating an account and creating your ‘want’ list by adding the individual items my products (your three most recent are always listed on the left of the page), publish your login information on your website, or be sure to get it into the hands of the movers and shakers in your family and Bob’s your uncle (even if he’s not) and that limited edition of The Hummingbird and the Horse is yours!