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February 13, 2019

Venue Spotlight: Crystal Ballroom in the Omni King Edward Hotel

Crystal Ballroom review

There are few venues with the sheer opulence and grandeur of the Crystal Ballroom in the Omni King Edward Hotel.

Dubbed the first luxury hotel in Toronto, its history of hospitality is unparalleled, much like the Crystal Ballroom itself. Every space in the Omni King Edward drips with style, but the newly reopened Crystal Ballroom is truly a space like no other. If you are interested in reserving the Crystal Ballroom for your function, it is important to note that the venue is considered one of the most-sought after spaces, and should be booked well in advance of your wedding or event.

Crystal Ballroom in the King Edward Hotel

The beautiful space underwent a $6.5 million renovation to restore the ballroom to its former state, with many modern touches, like the chandeliers and state of the art AV system. The history of the space is impressive, dating back to the 1920s with some of the most high profile events in the city happening in this decadent space.

My favourite features of the Crystal Ballroom are the floor to ceiling windows that wash the room in bright, sunny light, which make for stunning wedding photos. The space is approximately 5,000 square feet, and so can host gala-sized events easily. I also love that the space is completely private from the rest of the hotel. The hospitality team is amongst the best in the city, and the history of the Crystal Ballroom is both extensive and interesting, a fine talking point for guests. Fine art wedding enthusiasts, designers and anyone who is a fan of urbane, romantic space will want to check out the Crystal Ballroom as soon as possible!

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators, specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples who are madly in love. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day!

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2019, Vendor spotlight, Venues, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps

February 11, 2019

Boho Glam Broadview Hotel Wedding

Guyssssss! It’s a new week, I’m feeling good, and I want to share some solid wedding inspiration!

I’m excited to share our Broadview Hotel wedding editorial that we shot last March in Toronto!

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Wedding editorials are my favourite! Why? Because our team gets together with other wedding vendors in Toronto and we produce something that we dreamed up from scratch. How does the process work? Usually a few wedding friendors get together over a class of prosecco and a tasty snack and start talking. Usually the conversation turns to wedding trends and inspiration, and from there one of us will throw out a crazy idea and BAM, a shoot is born! I particularly love working with Paulina from Fete Floral because she understands my need to not recreate someone else’s ideas but to create our own. We usually think of ideas that are centred around a destination or an era, or even food!

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This particular editorial was featured in print in the fall issue of Today’s Bride, and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! We wanted to create a geometric design with some cosmic features that showcased the beautiful architectural history of the Broadview Hotel. The colours popped and so did the models!

A huge thanks to our amazing team, who showed up early, worked late and help put this great collaboration together! We’re only as strong as our team and I’m so proud of everyone! We absolutely could not have done this without the Broadview Hotel, and we’re so grateful that they chose partner with us on this!

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Co-conspirator, Producer & Stylist: Whim Event Planning & Design
Co-conspirator, Producer & Floral Designer: Fete Floral Boutique
Photography: Samantha Ong Photography
Venue: The Broadview Hotel
Beauty: Blush Pretty

Cake & Sweets: Mademoiselle Vanilla
Stationery: RSVP by Whim
Bridal fashion & Accessories: Vera Wang Toronto
Menswear:  C|E Clothier
Entertainment: Alley Entertainment
Vintage furniture and accessories: Vintage Glam Events
Place settings: Plate Occasions
Tabletop rentals and candle wall: DX Event Rentals
Luxury chocolate favours and lollipops: Succulent Chocolates
Cosmic floral wrap: Designer Dance Floors
Candles: Helix Candles

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators, specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day!

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2018, Styled Shoot, Trends, Venues, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps

February 4, 2019

Date Night Ideas for Engaged Couples in Toronto

4 Must Try Date Night Ideas in Toronto

Wedding planning is a lot of fun, but can also be an all-consuming amorphous blob that takes over every aspect of your life. This can take a serious toll on your relationships, especially with your spouse-to-be. Since we’ve seen it all when it comes to pre-marital drama and heartache, we want to help you alleviate a bit of that by sharing great date night ideas to check out while you’re wedding planning. Bonus points if you avoid all wedding talk on your date night!

  • Get crafty and make something special together

YayMaker, formerly known as Paint Night, is a fun way to spend an evening creating with your sweetie.

4 Must Try Date Night Ideas in Toronto

With locations across the GTA, you’ll have a ton of options when it comes to location and what you’ll be making. Options include painting on canvas or glass, planting terrariums and designing custom wooden signs! Soon there will even be an option for candle making and floral arrangement, too! This’ll be especially handy for you crafty DIY brides out there! If you decide to check out a YayMaker experience, use code ‘yaymaking’ to grab a discount especially for you!

  • Check out a chocolate-making workshop!

Check out a fun workshop like those offered by Chocolate Tales.

 4 Must Try Date Night Ideas in Toronto

These are great for beginners or those with a more advanced level of chocolate knowledge. You’ll get to roll up your sleeves and get very hands-on in a 90 minute session that will teach you how to make your own gourmet chocolate treats.

  • Explore a park and have a picnic

This is an easy, low-cost option that can be done at the drop of a hat. My husband and I keep a blanket and basket in our trunk in the summer and if the mood strikes, we grab a few snacks and hit the road for the prettiest park we can find. Consider exploring High Park, which is so walkable, has tons of picnic spots and lots of animals to meet with. Very instagrammable, too!

  • Take a cooking class

This is a personal favourite of mine. Married life, for us, consists of lots of cooking, and one of our favourite date nights is still to crack a bottle of wine and tackle a new recipe together. We rotate on who plays sous-chef but in the end, we have a lot of laughs and a delicious new dish to try out. We’ve only had minimal kitchen disasters 🙂

While it may be very tempting to cut back on date night during your year or two of wedding planning, consider adding a few options to your schedule to keep your stress levels low. Your engagement is a beautiful time to continue to deepen on your bond as a couple, and the saddest thing we see happen is when couples neglect their own bond and get too wrapped up in their wedding. The wedding will be for a day or two, but your marriage is for life! Keep those fires burning bright and prioritize your relationship all the time! What are some of your favourite date night options? Drop us a line and let us know!

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators, specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day!

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2019, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps

January 10, 2019

Modern Romantic Fusion Wedding in Milton

modern romantic fusion wedding

When I had my first Skype appointment with Nicole and Kevin, I knew right away that they were part of my tribe, and their style lined up so beautifully with my own. I was thrilled when they let me know that we were planning soulmates, and the fun began! I love fusion weddings and this one is very close to my heart. This Indian-Korean-Canadian bash was such fun to plan, and full of so many personal touches that really made the wedding feel like the fusing of two cultures and two souls.

Modern Romantic Fusion Wedding

When finding the right venue, Nicole wanted tons of natural light and beautiful grounds, and so Rattlesnake Point Golf Club was a match made in heaven for us, especially as Kevin is a huge golf enthusiast. The team at Rattlesnake made us feel very welcome and were very accommodating to ensure that we had the perfect menu to suit all tastes.

We worked with quite a dream team to put together this wedding design – Princess Decor provided the decor and floral, and Vintage Glam Events provided the vintage touches. Nicole’s dream was an elegant reception with muted ivory and champagne tones. Greenery and lush florals featured prominently in this event design, as well as soft ivory drapery for the head table. We paired this with warm tapered candle light, gold geometric pieces, and gold-rimmed glass charger plates. Our own team at RSVP by Whim designed the invitations and day of stationery.  Simply Lace Photography artfully captured all of the fine details in this post!

 

I really loved how fun the family and bridal parties were – there were so many funny moments and jokes throughout the night. The performances were stellar – including the remix of Punjabi MC and Gangnam Style that the bride and groom performed during their entrance, as well as all of the family and bridal party dances! What a talented bunch! It didn’t hurt that everyone looked fabulous, especially our beautiful bride with a change of outfit for the reception. Another very compelling detail for me, an admitted food-over, was the addition of a late night churro bar!

This wedding was a highlight for me and I could not have done it without the incredible team of vendors that came together to make magic happen. A huge thanks to our amazing team – I can’t wait to work with you all again!

Vendor Love:

Wedding Planning, Styling & Design: Whim Event Planning & Design
Photography: Simply Lace Photography
Videography: Beautiful Life Studios
Decor & Floral: Princess Decor
Vintage Rentals: Vintage Glam Events
Church: St Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Rattlesnake Point Golf Club
Wedding Cake: Fruitilicious Creations
AV & DJ: Alley Entertainment
Bride’s Gown: Becker’s Bridal Toronto
Bride’s Makeup & Hair: MUAH Beauty
Bridal Party Makeup & Hair: Beauty by Sacha
Stationery: RSVP by Whim
Transportation: Badder Bus
Chair Rentals: Made with Love Decor
Late Night Churro Bar: El Habanero Churrobar

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators, specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day!

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2018, Real Wedding, Wedding, Wedding Planning

November 20, 2018

Bridesmaids Dresses That Are Anything But Basic!


non-traditional bridesmaids dresses

Calling all stylish brides & bridesmaids! If you’re like us, you’re probably fed up of seeing bridesmaids all wearing the same styles, season after season. If you’re a bridesmaid, you’re probably tired of spending $ on a dress you’ll never wear again. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of non-traditional bridesmaids dress options that are anything but basic.

Rent Frock Repeat

Looking for sustainability and style at a fraction of the price? Look no further – Rent Frock Repeat, an upscale dress rental service, has you covered. We love the entire concept of this store because it gives you access to designer labels that would likely be out of budgets for most bridal parties. Plus, they make fitting and renting super easy and have tons of styles to choose from. You can keep your girls all matchy-matchy, or have everyone mix styles, colours and patterns. One ting is for certain, your girls will turn heads in these designer pieces!

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Rent this Badgley Mischka for a fraction of the retail price!

Yaya & Co

This stylish Canadian boutique stole my heart ages ago, and I’ve long thought that many of the trendy pieces, like cute separates, jumpers, and dresses, would be perfect as non-traditional bridesmaids dresses. We love the versatility of the outfits, and your girls will thank you for picking highly re-wearable designs.

non-traditional Bridesmaids dresses
Yaya & Co is a stylish Canadian boutique that has the perfect mix of trendy and whimsical pieces

ModCloth

We heart ModCloth! Not only does the site boast dresses so cute you’ll want to be in your own bridal party, but there is even a section dedicated to affordable, and adorable wedding gowns! With prices to fit every bridal party budget, you’ll be the least bridezilla bride on the block!

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ModCloth has sizes and prices to fit every budget, and dresses for every theme!

We definitely think that some tradition is good when it comes to weddings, but we are all for personal style coming out to play in a big way when it comes to fashion. Let your bridal party shine and forgo too many traditions. Let the girls dress for their figures, in flattering colours, fabrics, cuts and styles. Check out the awesome stores above, and I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators, specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day!

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2018, Colours, Trends, Vendors, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps

October 24, 2018

Wedding Photography Styles

We Whimlets enjoy taking the time to educate our couples and readers alike on different aspects of wedding planning.

Today’s topic is Wedding Photography.

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Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer Tom Wang captured this lovely shot from our 2017 team shoot!

Two questions that drive me crazy are ‘How much does a wedding photographer cost?’ and ‘Who is a good wedding photographer?’ It’s not that I don’t know the range of wedding photography costs or know of amazing photogs – the answer really is ‘it depends.’

What does it depend on? Well, you!

Photography is so insanely personal – wedding photography even more so! I think it’s much more important to nail down your wedding vision and thematic style before launching into the vendor search. You definitely want a wedding photographer who is experienced with your particular style and will capture your details accordingly.

For example, in the above team photo of the Whimlets, we wanted our shoot to be light, airy and full of fun. After working with Tom a few times, we knew that everyone would be very comfortable shooting with him and that natural fun would shine through in our photos. Tom has that innate ability to make people laugh and is super laid back, which always helps if you’re feeling a bit camera shy. His style is also modern and romantic, which works well for our company branding.

Wedding Photography
Candid moments during Ryan and Alycia’s wedding reception captured by Muse Moi Studios

Based on this logic, it wouldn’t make sense to book a photographer who specializes in modern, moody photography to shoot a fine-art designed wedding or vice versa. Think strongly about the style of wedding you want to have, and the venue you’re booking. If you want dramatic photos, a space chock full of natural light may not be the best choice.

Our friends over at Here Comes The Guide have put together an awesome guide and glossary defining important terms about wedding photography, so you can feel confident going into those vendor meetings!

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day!

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2018, Vendors, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps

September 24, 2018

Ryan and Alycia’s Romantic Mississauga Wedding

A Romantic Mississauga Wedding..

Ryan and Alycia hosted a lovely romantic wedding in Mississauga. These two lovebirds met as children, as their parents are longtime friends. Ryan proposed by planning a gourmet at-home dinner experience, complete with pretty decor, a professional chef and hand-lettered menus. We helped a little, but the concept and design was all his, and we couldn’t be prouder!

We loved their wedding day so much – especially since Ryan is a vendor we frequently collaborate with (enter shameless plug for Alley Entertainment here) and is a dear friend for years and years. On their wedding day, Ryan and Alycia were both emotional and deeply in tune with those emotions. We frequently tell our couples to just lean in to how you’re feeling, as the day goes by so quickly. Their first look was beautiful – complete with tears and watery smiles.

First Look – Muse Moi Studios
First Look – Muse Moi Studios
First Look – Muse Moi Studios
Muse Moi Studios
First Look – Muse Moi Studios
Muse Moi Studios

We started with an large-yet-intimate wedding ceremony at Red Rose Convention Centre, designed in collaboration with our friends at Princess Decor.  Nafeesa worked with us to create a cherry blossom frenzy that wowed guests as they walked in. Cocktails followed with a quick room flip into the reception.

Muse Moi Studios

A huge thanks to our dearest Yasmeen of Muse Moi Studios for capturing these lovely photos of our dearest couple. Ryan and Alycia, we’re wishing you all of the happiness in the world – we’ve enjoyed every second of planning with you, and can’t wait to see what you do next!

Team of Vendor Magicians:

VENUE: Red Rose Convention Centre

PLANNING/DESIGNER/STATIONER: Whim Event Planning & Design

PHOTOGRAPHER: Muse Moi Studios

DECOR/DESIGN/FLORAL: Princess Decor & Floral

BAND/DJ: Marxman

MAKE-UP ARTIST: Beauty by Bu

HAIR ARTIST: Beauty by Bu

DANCE FLOOR WRAP: Designer Dance Floors:

BRIDAL GOWN: Kleinfeld 

ENTERTAINMENT: Jestr Events

TRANSPORTATION: Limo Guy

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day! 

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2018, Real Wedding, Wedding Planning

February 12, 2018

7 Things That Drive Wedding Cost

Today on the blog we’re addressing a common question that we are asked on almost a daily basis. The first question we get from most couples is “How much do weddings cost?”

You’re going to be a bit mad at me for this answer, but..

It Depends.

There, I said it. A wedding can cost as little as the cost of the marriage license (averaging about $140.00 CAD in Toronto area) and the cost of an officiant (averaging $400-600 CAD in the Toronto area). Technically that plus two witnesses is all you need to get married. However, you probably wouldn’t be here on this post if that’s all you are looking for in a wedding day. In that case, we’ve broken down the major driving factors of wedding cost in Toronto.

What drives wedding cost?

  • Guest Count

Probably the biggest factor that drives wedding cost is your guest count. The number of guests you have will dictate the size of space you need as well as the number of tables, chairs, table rentals, invitation suites, favours, and the list goes on. If you can have an intimate wedding rather than a massive gala, you’re likely to save on a whole host of costs.

  • Venues

The Design Exchange, a beautiful historic space in downtown Toronto. Tara Lilly Photography.The next biggest factor is your venue – are you looking at a chic downtown ballroom, a historic estate or perhaps a stylish art gallery or museum? Whichever way you go, there are specific costs associated with any choice. For example, some downtown venues require a landmark fee and you’ll need to pay for parking for your guests. Typically a non-traditional venue like an art gallery or museum will not offer in-house catering, but will require you to use one of their preferred caterers. Other expenses to consider with a non-traditional space is the cost of rentals like tables, linens, chairs and place settings.

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The Design Exchange, a beautiful historic venue in downtown Toronto. Tara Lilly Photography.
  • Decor and Design Style

What’s your design style? Are you a minimalist and into plenty of white space and candlelight? Do you love lush florals and over the top draping and lighting? Either way, your design style will have a significant impact on your budget. A few tips to keep the costs down – go for in-season blooms with plenty of greens on your guest tables and reserve any over-the-top larger florals for the head table and family tables.

  • Quality and Experience of Vendors

Who is on your wedding squad? There are literally tonnes of wedding vendors in the Greater Toronto Area, and as such, you have your pick of vendors at almost every price point. You may be able to score some great deals with newer vendors seeking to establish themselves in this very busy industry. That said, always remember that you get what you pay for, and sometimes if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is!

  • Time of Year

It is well known that wedding season peaks in Toronto from May until September, and venue pricing reflects this. If you have any flexibility with hosting your wedding during the off season, you’ll find that many venues offer incentive pricing for this period. That being said, there is always intense competition at very popular venues, so booking early is your best bet to secure optimal pricing while locking in your preferred date.

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Winter weddings are absolutely gorgeous and a great way to have it all while controlling wedding costs. Jessica Rose Photography
  • Day of the Week

If you can’t avoid a summer wedding, you could look at an alternate day during the week apart from Saturday. Many venues offer better pricing here, and it may also help influence the size of your guest list as well.

  • Time of Day

Lastly, hosting a luncheon wedding reception rather than a full dinner can seriously influence your overall budget as well. Typically a luncheon will have a lighter meal or even a buffet or cocktail style, and the bar is typically limited to a few cocktails and/or wine.

So there you have it – the 7 things that drive wedding cost! We’re confident that you can have the most beautiful wedding day ever as long as you keep these items in mind when planning your budget!

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day! 

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2018, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning

August 19, 2017

The Pregnant Wedding Planner – Confessions From the Trenches

pregnant wedding planner

by Alisha Chadee

What an amazing year 2017 has been, and we still have lots to go! This year I saw Whim take on more weddings and corporate events than ever, with a stronger focus on ideal type clients. We did a complete brand relaunch late last year, and the results have been spectacular! We collaborated with amazing friendors, and made a bunch of new ones! I personally had a huge change in my personal life, too! After two and a half blissful years of marriage, my husband and I discovered that we are expecting our first little human! We’ve affectionately dubbed our little nugget ‘Pooklet’ and we’ve had many adventures with our unborn son this summer! He’ll make his debut in October, and we’re all eagerly awaiting his arrival, as he’s the first grandkid on both sides of the family, so it’s like I’m carrying the Messiah in my womb right now. No pressure or anything :).

Speaking of adventures, being a full time wedding planner, business owner and all-around girl-boss is challenging on its own, but adding the unexpected and hard-to-predict symptoms of pregnancy made this year a whole new ball game for me. As a pregnant wedding planner, I had to really change the way my days flowed, especially wedding days. My typical wedding days can be anywhere from 8-14 hours – averaging out at about 12 hours or so. Fighting through nausea, fatigue and coping with an expanding waistline meant that I had to change my approach to pretty much everything. Lucky me, since I pretty much just figured it out last season LOL! However, I’ve made it through the busiest part of our season, and I have a few tips to share with those of you out there who might be in the same situation now or soon!

Be Real With Yourself & Your Clients

I disclosed my pregnancy pretty quickly to my clients, but when you do so is totally up to you and your comfort level with sharing the news. I found out I was expecting in February, and we shared the news in April. My wedding season had started in February (I found out the day after our first wedding), and I had quite a full calendar in May so I let those couples know that I was expecting by April. I let them know that this wouldn’t affect my ability to finish planning their weddings or my availability on the day of. That said, I did let them know that I would be bringing on extra help for any lifting or running around that might need to get done because I was fighting serious fatigue in my first trimester. Having that discussion early on helped to manage expectations, and helped my team have contingency plans in place for each of our weddings going forward. This also led to a fabulous expansion of our team with Ilina and Sylwia coming on board! This put my mind at ease because any events for later in the year now had full coverage and all of our clients were happy with the solutions we offered.

Stay Hydrated & Keep Snacks on Hand

This is super important, especially if you’re fighting through that first trimester. I learned very quickly that morning sickness isn’t confined to the morning, and it hits like a bat out of hell with little to no warning at all. The telltale symptom for me was a deep and gnawing hunger pang that came almost out of nowhere, and I knew if I didn’t eat within 5 minutes, I’d be really sick. After one unfortunate incident in a Tim Horton’s drive through, I learned to keep water and snacks everywhere, from in my office to in my car to in my emergency kit and purse. Granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, dry cereal, cookies.. pretty much anything that I could access quickly. As lovely as it would have been to completely ride out my morning sickness in the comfy confines of my bed (I was sick for about 12 weeks straight from week 10 to week 22 or so), that just wasn’t realistic, as I had tons of events to prepare for, meetings to go to and clients to wow. Yet throwing up in the middle of a meeting because I hadn’t prepared properly also wasn’t an option. Also that’s just gross.

Gear Up, Take Breaks & Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!

Any wedding planner worth their salt will tell you that comfortable low-heeled or flat shoes are an absolute must to get through the long hours of a wedding day. If not, you’ll be rocking a serious party hunch the next day if you can walk at all! This is doubly true as a pregnant wedding planner! Invest in a pair of orthotics or other well fitting and well-supporting shoes because your body is already doing a heck of a lot without the added strain of no arch support! I also found it useful to invest in a few dresses/pantsuits that accommodated my ever-expanding waistline and kept me feeling light and comfy throughout the day. Depending on the stage you’re at, you may not even need maternity dresses specifically – just flowy dresses and tops could do the trick! Lastly, the hardest but by far the most important lesson for me was to trust my team and delegate more than ever. We created task lists for our assistants and on the day of, if I needed a minute, I delegated duties to my assistant(s) to take the load off of me a bit so I could rest or sit down as needed.

Honestly, Whim has amazing couples and each and every one of them felt super invested in my pregnancy and made the experience beautiful for me. It’s so lovely working with all of our brides and grooms and I felt so well taken care of by every venue I worked at! Between my couples, my team and our venues, little Baby C has been living the good life while mama put in work! With a little bit of preparation beforehand, you too can get through a busy wedding season while growing a human! Leave me a comment below and let me know what it was like for you getting through a busy wedding season while expecting!

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day! 

1 Comment Filed Under: 2017, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning

August 10, 2017

How Does This Wedding Planner Stay Organized?

by Alisha Chadee

As a creative entrepreneur, I’m constantly looking for ways to stay organized and ahead of my work. Between client commitments, vendor management, actually managing my business, and all of the extra projects I want to take on, some days my brain feels like the zoo on half price admission day. How do I keep it all together? Well, it used to involve caffeine, but since I started growing my little peanut, I’ve had to give that up, too! Luckily it wasn’t the biggest sacrifice :). Here are a few tools that I use as a wedding planner and business owner to stay organized. PS none of these vendors are paying me to say any of this – these are just tools I use on a day to day that I really enjoy!

A FANTASTIC Day Planner – Day Designer

I did a lot of research before I committed to a pen-and-paper day planner. I wanted to be sure that I was using a tool that would help me map my days out, and achieve my long and short term goals. After extensive research, the Day Designer seemed like the best option for me because it is specifically tailored toward creative professionals (both entrepreneurs and otherwise). I love that each day has it’s own page with to do lists and scheduling sections, as well as areas geared toward mindfulness and gratefulness. While I’m a tech savvy person, and my clients are all on a cloud-based software (more on that later), its still incredibly important to me that I put pen to paper and make a list of everything I need to get done. My planner is super useful because I’m able to prioritize and organize my day around critical, important and nice-to-have actions. This is my second year using it, and I’ll be sure to repurchase for 2018.

A FANTASTIC Client Management System – Aisle Planner

Like I said before, we love being tech-savvy and efficient, and one of the ways that we’ve really pushed that point across is to use a fabulous client-facing planning tool. Aisle Planner is our client portal, as well as our client and vendor management tool. Once again, I did a lot of research over 2 years ago when we made the switch from spreadsheets and shared docs to a tool like AP. Any wedding planner with experience will tell you that managing 1-5 events is vastly different from juggling 20 or more. In order to do our best work, I felt that having an all-in-one tool with the capability of managing our vendor information as well was very handy and worth the investment. I love that our couples can log in from anywhere (we work with a lot of out of town couples), and can access everything related to their wedding.  Now that our team has expanded to include more planners, it’s handy to have a tool we can all use to stay organized for each of our commitments. We’ve even organized a team space to host our schedules, templates, documents, contracts and client-facing resources.

A FANTASTIC Scheduling Tool – Calendly

Some weeks I look over my schedule and it seems pretty light – a few meetings here and there, and tons of laptop-time to follow up with vendors, write articles and work on resources for my beloved brides and grooms. What happens more often than not is that my week turns around dramatically and is suddenly filled with meetings with clients, vendors, new inquiring couples and personal commitments. In order to track all of this (in addition to my trusty Day Designer) I started using a tool called Calendly. This handy tool syncs with my calendar to read my current commitments and parse out my availability for anyone who needs my time during business hours. This makes it easier for my couples to find times that fit their schedules so we can meet and collaborate. BC (before Calendly), I really disliked the back and forth by email trying to find times that suited everyone – with this tool everyone can easily figure out what works based on when I’m available and can also reschedule or cancel if need be directly online. This also allows me to have some control over last minute appointments and my own schedule for the week.

There you have it – tools that make my life easier! Every entrepreneur is different, and our needs are all dependent on the type of work we do, but these types of tools are super useful for anyone. I love how efficient these tools have made my team, and to be honest, our clients love them too!

Whim Event Planning and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners and day of coordinators specializing in modern romantic weddings for fun, sweet couples. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream day! 

Leave a Comment Filed Under: 2017, Vendor spotlight, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps

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About Whim

Whim Event Coordination & Design was founded in 2012 by dreamers Alisha and Michelle. These creative crazies envisioned a wedding planning team for the whimsical, laid back professional couple. Alisha and Michelle believe strongly in crafting weddings that are unique to each couple’s personality, identity and love story.

We are a fun and talented team of creative individuals that are driven by the love of our clients and what we do!
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