Rose Gold Themed Style Shoot at Ashbridges Bay
A warm sunny day at Ashbridges Bay
Last week we had the pleasure of working with a number of amazing vendors on a rose gold themed style shoot at Ashbridges Bay. We collaborated with makeup artist Sonia Kang, photographer Thomas Zitnansky, florist Therese Guidolin, and Sinfully Sweet by Sonia J. With the combined efforts of these vendors and the entire Whim Event Coordination and Design team, the outcome was nothing short of stunning. The day was sunny and beautiful, and Ashbridges Bay was packed with people, all enjoying the gorgeous weather. The team arrived in the afternoon and quickly put together a simple, but stunning sweet table.
With the initial theme development by Whim, event coordinators Alisha and Michelle decided to execute their vision in a park-like setting at Ashbridges Bay in Toronto. The table decor and beautiful mock invitation made by Michelle was meticulously set up underneath a large oak tree near the beach, with Thomas Zitnansky expertly using the natural light to complement his photographs. One of the table setups included a soft rose coloured satin tablecloth with a delicate pink lace overlay. The second table setup featured a white satin tablecloth with a rose-sequined tablerunner down the front and sides of the table.
Despite the number of passersby and disruptive wind, the team of vendors managed to pull off a phenomenal shoot. The shoot was a wonderful experience, with many spectators stopping to say hello and ask about our shoot. By the end of the day, we all enjoyed some of the yummy sweets, had fun taking many photos, and had tons of ideas for our next collaboration. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome, and we have many great photos for the new version of our website (coming soon!). Stay tuned for more pictures from this lovely styled shoot, and please check out our awesome team of vendors!
- Published in 2015, Colours, Styled Shoot, Trends, Wedding, Wedding TIps
20 Questions to Ask Your Toronto Wedding Venue
Toronto Wedding Venues
Choosing a Toronto wedding venue is a crucial step when planning your wedding. The location and inner workings of the wedding venue that you pick are equally in importance, which is why it’s critical to ask all the right questions rather than selecting a site merely for its aesthetic value. Are you new to site visits and are unsure of what to inquire about? Don’t have a wedding planner to ask all the right questions on your behalf? Worry not; we’ll help you cover all the basics! Here are 20 questions that you need to ask your Toronto wedding venue!
- What is the maximum number of guests you can accommodate?
- Is this facility wheelchair accessible?
- Do you have an on-site coordinator or facility director? Who will be here to oversee the setup on the day of my event?
- Do you have a valid liquor license? Is it valid for your outdoor grounds?
- Am I allowed to bring in my own alcohol?
- Do you have in-house catering? Do I have the option of bringing in external caterers?
- What are your decoration guidelines & restrictions?
- Some venues don’t allow open flames, etc.
- Do you supply tables, chairs, linens, or place settings? Do I have the option to bring in my own?
- Is there a designated area for cocktail hour?
- You don’t want your guests crammed into a small lobby or left outside.
- Is there a private bridal suite?
- It’s nice to have a quiet place when you need a few moments alone. And no one wants to have to bustle their dress in the bathroom!
- Do you have on-site security? Am I permitted to employ my own security guards?
- Do you have a list of preferred vendors? Will I be allowed to employ vendors outside this list?
- If you haven’t started looking on your own, you can use their list get a kick-start with finding a DJ, caterer, photographer, etc.
- Who will be responsible for setting up and taking down the decor, tables and chairs? When will it be completed?
- Does the price per guest include liability insurance?
- If your venue doesn’t have liability insurance, you’ll want to get your own- you don’t want to be responsible if someone gets hurt at your event
- What are the taxes and service charges on the food and beverage cost per person?
- Is the SOCAN fee included in your price?
- SOCAN licenses allow you to play any music during your event. Visit their site for more information.
- Is there sufficient parking in accordance with the maximum capacity of this venue? Is there a fee associated with parking? Is valet parking available?
- Are there any additional service charges?
- Do you have an alternative plan for outdoor events, should they be disrupted?
- What time must the venue be empty by? Is there a fee if I exceed this time?
Pro Tip: Try to schedule your site visit during the time of day (and year) that your event will be happening. This way you can get a good idea of the natural lighting in and outside of the venue, so that you can coordinate your photos beforehand. And make sure to get any agreements you make in writing, so that you have something to refer back to should there be any discrepancies in the process.
Be as thorough as possible when touring possible Toronto wedding venues- don’t be afraid to ask all the questions you want. If you have a number of venues in mind, asking the same questions during every visit can help you create a comprehensive pro and con list in the end, to aid in your decision.
Do you think we missed some questions? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think the most important question to ask your venue is!
- Published in 2015, Trends, Wedding, Wedding TIps
BUDGET TIPS: Volume 2- Save on Wedding Invitations
Unless you opted to send out save the dates, your wedding invitations are the first look that your guests will get at your wedding, and they’ll likely set the tone for the entire event. With that being said don’t feel like you need to spend an arm and a leg on this portion of your wedding. They should fit the theme of your wedding, which means you can always go for little DIY details to give it that extra flair and cut down on costs at the same time. Regardless of whether you’re having an extravagant affair at the Liberty Grand or a simple gathering in your parents backyard, it’s never a bad idea to add a personal touch to your wedding invitations- a little goes a long way, and your guests will undoubtedly appreciate it! Here are a few tips to keep the costs of your invitations down, without compromising the aesthetics.
If you want a more high end invitation design but don’t want to to spend high- end money, keep in mind that downgrading materials can help cut down costs. The type of paper you print your invitations on and even the envelopes you package them in can drastically affect the price of your invitations. If you’re focused on being cost effective, then your best bet is to choose something simple- instead of opting for Jacquard stationery paper (fancy paper that’s screen printed and gives the illusion of multiple layers of lace), you could go with a regular weighted cardstock in a neutral or common colored envelope. Specific colors like emerald green can be difficult to find and a little more costly than a white envelope, for example.
There are also a number of ways that you can DIY your way to an expensive looking invitation without spending a bunch of cash. You can enhance your invites with a light sheen of glitter spray from the art store. You can glue little gems to accent your invitations. You can even add some bling to the inside of your envelopes to give them that extra oomph! Adding bows, charms, and small accessories to your invitations makes it more personal and will definitely enhance their overall appearance. You can even create your own crest to emboss on your invites and even make it a part of your entire theme. Some couples opt to simply intertwine their initials while others include images that hold sentimental value. Whatever you choose, your personality will shine through and make your invitations that much more stunning.
These are just a few tips to help you keep the cost of your invitations down. You can easily DIY your way to beautifully extravagant looking invitations without breaking the bank. If you have any pointers on how to save on invitations, leave a comment below and let us know!
- Published in 2015, Budget, Trends, Wedding, Wedding TIps