The Hudson Bay’s Fall Scanning Event
The Hudson’s Bay Wedding Registry Event
This September and October, we had the pleasure of attending the Hudson Bay’s fall scanning event at the flagship Queen Street location in Toronto, and boy was it a blast! Hudson’s Bay wedding registry
Many of the couples in attendance were aware that the event would feature an up-beat atmosphere, but quite a few guests were pleasantly surprised by the different interactive stations scattered throughout the registry area.
Both events were very well received, with couples coming out from all over the GTA just to partake the great product demonstrations, yummy snacks and beverages and the opportunity to receive personalized assistance from the Hudson Bay’s friendly and knowledgeable staff. Quite a few of our own couples attended, which was great to see, because it’s easy to fall behind on finishing the registry! We always recommend starting early so you can add new seasonal items later on ;).
A few features we especially loved:
Delectable Snacks
Anyone who knows Michelle and I, knows that we loveeee oysters! Our friends at Oyster Boy had a beautiful display and spent the afternoon happily shucking away!
Sweet Godiva treats that had us begging for more!
Sparkling wine and Beer from Pelee Island Winery and Steam Whistle! I think guests especially loved sipping a good drink while building their dream home interiors!
As you can see, I was enjoying myself hugely :).
I also want to give a shout out to the event DJ, from TypeO Dj Service for absolutely killing it and creating such a fun and upbeat vibe throughout the event!
All in all, this event was fantastic! We want to give a huge shout out to the Hudson’s Bay and all of the event sponsors for putting together such a fun and thoughtful experience for engaged couples across the GTA. It’s a magical time in any couple’s courtship, and we’re so happy the Hudson’s Bay Wedding Registry team added that extra oomph to the fall scanning event! We encourage you all to check out the next opportunity to Sip, Scan and Celebrate, and we’ll keep you posted on when that will be!
xoxo,
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!
Wedding Invitations: Why so Pricey!?
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Your wedding invitations are the first glance that your guests have of your wedding, and you obviously want to set a tone that screams nothing but fab for your big day. Leaving a good first impression is important, but at what cost?
We’ve given you the inside scoop on why wedding photography and bridal hair and makeup seems so costly, and guess what! We’re keeping up the momentum, and now we’re to tell you a little bit about why wedding stationery can seem so costly. I spoke to our very own wedding stationery genius Michelle, and she’s told me all about why wedding invitations can seem so costly.
Here are some of the stunning stationery suites Michelle has created for previous clients!
Why are wedding invitations so expensive!?
Truth is, there are a bunch of factors that come into play when considering the price of your invites. These factors can include whether or not you opt for a custom design, different print processes, and the quality of the papered goods that you choose.
Design
If you choose to opt for a custom design as many couples do, there’s a design fee charged to cover the amount of time and love that your designer has to put in, in order to create your dream invitation. This process generally takes anywhere from three days to two weeks, depending on the number of revisions requested by the couple. Michelle takes great care with all of her designs, and makes a conscious effort to get to know each client so that she can create something that’s “unique to their own style and love story.”
Quality & Print Processes
Our simple, single sided invitations and plain white envelopes here at Whim start at $3 an invite, with a minimum quantity of 50. If you’re someone who wants a thicker and heavier cardstock, or even a shimmer cardstock, that would be an additional charge added onto the cost per invite. Color upgrades to your envelopes can also add on to these costs. Upgraded print processes like foil, thermography, and letterpress can also get pretty pricey. If you have no idea what those words even mean, here’s a quick breakdown:
Assembly
Adding little embellishments to each of your invitations are another additional charge that you need to consider when thinking about your design and cost of your invitations. Add-ons like ribbons, belly bands, jewels, rhinestones, and buckles can give your invite that extra oomph, but come at a cost. Purchasing these embellishments is only a part of the extra cost- those ribbons don’t tie themselves! Each of our custom invitations here at Whim are handmade; even though this process can be time consuming, it helps us make sure that our couples are receiving the highest quality possible.
Just to give you an approximate estimate of the total amount of time that it takes to design, print, and assemble your invitations, here are some general timeframes: A more simple invitation design takes about 1 month, and more complex designs take around 1.5 months.
We hope that we’ve helped to highlight some reasons surrounding the cost of wedding invitations- like most other things in the event planning industry, there are valid reasons as to why invitations can seem so costly, but actually aren’t. When you consider the time and effort it takes to design, print, and assemble each invitation, the cost of wedding invites seem less and less outrageous.
Huge thank you to Michelle for taking the time out to educate me on cost of wedding invitations! Check out more of her fabulous designs on the official Whim Instagram and Facebook pages.
What’s your take on the cost of wedding invitations? Drop us a line, we want to hear what you think!
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!
- Published in 2016, Budget, GTA, Wedding, Wedding Planning
Live Music Options for your Wedding Ceremony
By Tarisha Beniprashad
For some, the wedding reception is the main event of all their wedding festivities, but we’re strong believers that your ceremony should be the highlight. Vowing your love and life to your SO in front of your friends and family is a significant and beautiful affair, and should be decorated as such! Hiring a live musician or vocalist is a fantastic way to accentuate the elegance of your ceremony. We’ve compiled a list (you know us Whimlets love lists) of some live music options that we think would give your ceremony an extra flair! Keep on reading if you’d like some…
Live music options for your wedding ceremony!
Pianist
As long as there’s a piano at your venue, it’s tough to compete with this classic sound. There are
some incredible pianists in the GTA like Liz Craig who can play practically anything, making this a versatile option for any ceremony.
Harpist
If your venue’s got the space to accommodate the instrument and you really want to up the elegance factor, a harpist is the way to go. Whether your harpist is an angel or not, we guarantee a harp will sound angelic at your ceremony! Joanna Jordan is a fantastic harpist based in Toronto, and would definitely emphasize the grandeur of your vows.
Violinist
A violinist is an ideal option for almost any wedding. Your violinist can play songs and adjust their sound to suit the tone of your ceremony, whether its a backyard affair, or a black tie event. We’re big fans of Jill Daley’s versatile sound.
Organist
Organs are usually hidden out of sight and most commonly found in churches, so you’ll probably have a more formal ceremony if you’re opting to have the sounds of the organ grace the ears of your guests before your ceremony. You can’t go wrong with this traditional sound!
Vocalist
What’s more romantic than walking towards your groom to the sweet lyrics of your special song? Nothing, that’s what. Susan Dunstan is an amazing singer, and we’re sure she’d moisten some eyes before you even walk down the aisle!
Ensemble
You probably won’t opt for a full out wedding band for your ceremony, but a small ensemble or even a quartet would be a lovely option to orchestrate your processional. We’re big fans of violin and cello duets; check out Walla Music for some heavenly ensembles, and samples of their work!
Band
Hiring a versatile band is another great option if you’d like to incorporate live music into your ceremony. From a graceful ceremony duo to a full dance band at your reception, groups like Brent Miller Live can entertain your guests throughout the days events! We had the privilege of hearing this band live at the 2016 WPIC kick off at The Forth, and we can personally assure you they’ve got an amazing sound!
This list ins’t exhaustive, but we hope that we’ve helped you out a little when contemplating your options when it come to live music at your wedding ceremony. You can’t go wrong with any of these sounds- any of them would be the perfect way to begin your happily ever after!
Leave us a comment and let us know what you think about live music at wedding ceremonies, and if you think we missed any interesting options!
xoxo,
The Whimlets
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!
- Published in 2015, GTA, Trends, Uncategorized, Vendors, Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Intimate Wedding Venues in the GTA
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Having trouble finding the perfect venue for your intimate wedding? Did our Unique Venues in the GTA post not help you find the ideal spot for your nuptials? Fear not, we’ve come up with a new list…
Intimate wedding venues in the GTA
These spots are ideal for a cozy ceremony and a reception just for you and your closest loved ones. Keep on reading if you’d like to find out more about some of the most popular intimate venues in the GTA!
Old Mill Inn & Spa
With a variety of rooms to choose from, the Old Mill offers class and Victorian style like no other. They also have an on-site 16th century candlelit wedding chapel with stained glass windows that would make for some amazing photographs. With amazing in-house catering and luxurious outdoor gardens, Old Mill is an ample choice for any small event.
Miller Lash House
Featuring high arched ceilings, fireplaces, antique furnishings, and wooden trim, the Miller Lash house is both versatile and beautiful. The University of Toronto owned spaces allows for 50 seated guests, and a cocktail reception of 100.
Ancaster Mill
The Ancaster Mill is a little oasis in the scenic suburb of Hamilton. With a waterfall complementing the exquisite exterior, this is the ideal location for a small outdoor wedding. There are also a number of rooms inside of the inn to choose from, if you’re interested in an indoor ceremony. You can choose from rooms with a more modern feel, or go for something a little more rustic. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
We hope that this collection of intimate wedding venues in the GTA helps narrow down your search, and gets you closer to finding the perfect venue for your wedding! Are there any venues you think should be on our list? Contact us today so we can get started on finding the perfect intimate venue for your wedding!
xoxo,
intimate wedding venues in the GTA
- Published in 2016, GTA, Rustic, Trends, Uncategorized, Venues, Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps