Wedding Planning during Covid19 (Coronavirus)
Hey y’all, Alisha here, and I wanted to address the ever-changing coronavirus situation that is changing the landscape of wedding season for 2020. Wedding planning during Covid19 is a huge challenge for everyone right now, especially weddings that are coming up within the next few weeks. Due to the highly contagious nature of Coronavirus/Covid19, extra precautions need to be taken, and social distancing is critical.
If your wedding is happening within the next 30-90 days, I bet you’re feeling the stress, and believe me, your vendors are, too! First things first, take a deeeeeep breath. This too shall pass, and there are loads of professionals that want to help you, because we’re all in this together!
Here are a few steps to take to understand what your options are:
1. Review your contracts
Not just during a pandemic, but any time you are considering making a change to a service or product you’ve purchased for your wedding, review your contract to see what your options are. Many vendors already outline a clear cancellation policy or a postponement policy. Review your contracts to see what yours says, and if it isn’t clear, be sure to reach out to your vendors for clarification. Do note that the majority of vendors will gladly transfer your deposit to a new date, but an outright cancellation typically still follows the standard cancellation clause.
2. Contact your venue about contingency planning.
Many venues are operating business as usual until instructed by their local health authority and government to cease operations. In Toronto, all non-essential businesses are closed and all public gatherings over 50 are banned until March 31st 2020. However, this excludes banquet halls for wedding celebrations and funeral gatherings. Therefore, whether or not your event needs to be postponed will be at the discretion of the venue. Most venues that are offering postponements are doing so within 2020 dates with no penalty. Some venues are also allowing clients to lower their minimum guest count in case they have many guests that can no longer attend. That said, popular venues will run out of dates very quickly, so it is important to make the decision quickly and reach out as soon as you can.
3. Cancellation Insurance
If you purchased cancellation insurance, reach out to your provider immediately to understand what your options are and what is covered. However, if you are interested in purchasing it now, be clear about your questions regarding Covid 19 because many insurers are no longer issuing policies with coverage regarding coronavirus.
4. Destination Weddings
Due to the high number of travel restrictions in place around the world, it is very likely that you will need to cancel your destination wedding or postpone for a later date. Reach out to your planner or your destination contact and explore your options, and inform your guests ASAP so they can adjust their travel plans/cancel their reservations.
5. If your wedding is happening in a few months..
Take a step back and breathe. Don’t panic! You still have time, and continue to monitor official sources for information on how the pandemic is affecting your community. You can also follow the steps above in reaching out to your venues and vendors just to get an assessment of how they are planning to proceed in the coming months and how this may potentially affect your wedding date. That being said, you may want to continue locking down your favourite vendors sooner than later because everyone those who are rescheduling will now be looking at the same pool of vendors. Wedding planning during Covid19 and the immediate aftermath will be tricky, but there are lots of resources out there (like wedding planners) that can offer some strong guidance!
Some final thoughts
Stay safe and stay healthy. Practice social distancing and please, please stay calm. Like I said earlier, this too shall pass, and what a story for your grandkids! Please note that we will be updating this article as new information becomes available. Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!
- Published in Wedding Planner Tips
Introducing Meera Meera – Indian Lehenga Rentals in Toronto!
You all know that one of my favourite past times is finding new and exciting vendors who are pushing the boundaries and serving with love. This week I had the pleasure of meeting Sonny from Meera Meera Rentals, located in Thornhill.
Introducing Meera Meera Rentals – Indian Lehenga Rentals in Toronto!
Meera Meera Rentals provides designer Indian lehenga rentals and boy, can I just say that we’ve needed this service for a long time? I’m sure you all can think of a few companies that provide clothing rental options for Western wear, both formal and informal, but I can’t think of any for South Asian attire.
As soon as Sonny reached out to me on Instagram, I was immediately intrigued. As a second-generation Canadian of Indo-Guyanese descent, I’m no stranger to South Asian attire. The issue I’ve had is that I don’t wear lehengas and sarees with enough frequency to constantly update my wardrobe. Also, my knowledge of what’s currently styling is limited to scrolling Instagram and Pinterest. It’s also hard to justify dropping $400+ on a beautiful outfit that I’ll likely only wear once. By the time the next event rolls around, it may have even gone out of style! Cue heartbreak and tears from me because I can’t stand having things just sit in my closet unworn.
Meera Meera fills this gap so beautifully – especially for fusion weddings, in my humble opinion. Sonny’s reasoning is that she herself is in a fusion marriage, and found that the constant need for stylish outfits came at a pretty big price tag. Many people find it intimidating to head to the shops to shop and compare. As a fusion-wedding planner, I can attest that shopping for Indian attire can be challenging for non-Indian folks. Even I struggle with using the right terminology for the type of outfit that I want. By providing this service, Sonny takes the guesswork out of shopping for stylish Indian attire. I love that she is being eco-friendly with this service, and giving women a chance to look bomb-diggity at an affordable price point. I love that this service also means that I’ll have more variety at my finger tips, too!
So how much does it cost?
Meera Meera’s Indian lehenga rentals provides a boutique-style experience with pricing starting at $85 CAD for a stunning outfit, and a 4 day rental. Sonny also provides minor alterations and accessory rentals. Each outfit is professionally cleaned after every wear, so no need to worry about that, either! You can literally reach out to her, have an outfit with a super-fast turnaround and show up at your event looking like a million bucks! Sonny’s showroom is stunning and you’ll love every second of chatting with her. She’s warm, caring and funny, and she’ll make you feel right at home as you find the perfect outfit for your next event!
As an added bonus for Whim readers, let Meera Meera know that we’ve sent you, and you’ll receive $10.00 off of your first rental!
Events by Whim is a team of Toronto Wedding Planners committed to creating intimate and elegant celebrations for Toronto’s discerning couples. Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!
- Published in Vendor spotlight
Writing the BEST Wedding Speech Ever!
Writing a wedding speech can be tricky, even more so if you’re hastily scribbling down notes into your phone. Or onto a cocktail napkin after you’ve knocked back a few. Too often we see couples waiting until the last second to write their wedding speech, and then stressing over it. Fear not, though, for your friendly neighbourhood Whimlets have you covered with..
Wedding Speech Tips to WOW Your Guests!
The anatomy of a wedding speech is pretty simple – you are basically thanking folks for their contribution to your upbringing, well being and wedding planning. The order that you can do this in varies, but here’s pretty simple format:
- Guests that travelled a long way to be at the wedding
- All of your guests for attending and being with you on this special day
- Your bridal party and attendants for assisting before and during the wedding
- Your vendors (optional) if they’ve gone above and beyond for you
- Those that could not be with you and are dearly missed
- Your new in-laws
- Your immediate family and parents
Next up, you’ll want to turn your attention to your new spouse and speak a bit about your relationship. Telling a sweet or funny anecdote about your relationship is a great way to start. For example, you can talk about how you met if it’s one of those sweet meet-cute stories. Or you can tell the origins of a funny inside joke between the two of you. Or your adventures and misadventures during wedding planning.
Finally, end by thanking your new spouse. You can do this a number of different ways, like talking about your joy at finally being married, or how much the day has meant to you, and your dreams for the future.
Here are a few best practices as you start to get your thoughts together for your wedding speech:
- Write your speech down. Seriously – don’t try to wing it unless you’re a professional public speaker. Even they have notes!
- Try not to get completely sloshed before you give your speech
- Keep it classy – embarrassing your new spouse or bridal party isn’t a nice way to end your program. It’s probably not a great way to start a marriage, either.
- Try not to give a super long speech. Your guests have been sitting for a while at this point so it’s a great idea to keep it under 5-7 minutes (we allocate 3-5 for everyone else!).
What are your best tips for writing a killer wedding speech? Drop us a line – we want to hear from you!
Events by Whim is a team of Toronto Wedding Planners committed to creating intimate and elegant celebrations for Toronto’s discerning couples. Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!
- Published in 2019, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Help! One of My Wedding Vendors Cancelled!
Sometimes things don’t go according to plan – I’ll be the first to admit it. I have had weddings where a vendor has had to cancel, I’ve also had couples book me at the last minute to help them figure things out for the same reason. I want to address this issue today because it’s a sensitive topic on both sides and merits some discussion. Also, please note that I am not talking about vendors who ghost on you – only vendors that reach out in advance to discuss a cancellation. So, with that said,
What do you do if your Wedding Vendors Cancel?
This is going to sound silly, but try not to panic. As stressful as it is when you get notice that a wedding vendor is having to cancel on you, chances are there is a solid reason for it. Most wedding vendors are well intentioned people who also have families, personal lives and any host of things that could cause an emergency to come up. If the vendor wasn’t legit, they would have ghosted on you and attempted to keep your money (we have seen this before, too). The fact that they are reaching out means that they are just as committed to helping you find a solution. Here are a few things to keep in mind before and after booking your wedding vendors.
Consider purchasing wedding insurance from the onset of your planning
Wedding insurance liability policies often have additional optional provisions that can save you a LOT of frustration and money if a vendor happens to cancel on you. Click here to read more about enhanced wedding liability insurance. Policies cost as little as $55.00 for a LOT of peace of mind!
Life happens sometimes – try not to take it personally
In most cases, when a wedding vendor cancels, it is because of a personal emergency. While you are dealing with a business, the people behind the business do have families and circumstances that are sometimes out of their control. I’ve seen many examples of this, including
- Death in the family
- Pregnancy/miscarriage
- Personal illness
Do keep in mind that vendors are not required to disclose the nature of personal issues even though some will. Remember to be gracious as this person is navigating murky waters that have blurred across personal and professional lines. It’s easy to only think of the wedding but a little compassion goes a long way. Chances are, your vendors are doing everything they can to deliver the perfect wedding for you, and are considering alternatives in case they cannot.
So what do you do if a wedding vendor cancels?
Let’s go through our options.
Pull out your contract and review cancellation clause to understand what is required of you vs the vendor
Anyone providing a service or product should have a cancellation clause in their invoice and/or contract. This clause will outline what happens if the client cancels vs if the vendor cancels. Typically if a client cancels within a certain amount of time, there is a forfeiture of initial payment (deposit). Usually if a vendor cancels, there is a full refund of the amount paid. If there is a partial cancellation (ie some services will still be provided) the amount paid is adjusted on the final invoice.
As the vendor who cancelled to suggest alternative vendors for their service or product
Chances are, they’ve done this already. Like I said before, it’s stressful for a vendor to have to cancel. This is their livelihood and most wedding vendors are very keen to provide end-to-end excellent customer service. In the unfortunate instance of a cancellation, chances are they have sought out alternative vendors available on your date to cover the service or product they are providing. Some vendors will do this under their contract with you on the back end, others will have you cancel with them and create a new contract with the new vendor.
Consider hiring a planner if you’re super stressed and are out of resources
Not to throw in a shameless plug, but wedding planners have the resources to find you vendors very quickly. Not only that, they are finding you reputable vendors that can provide the same, if not better, quality than you originally contracted. I’d love to say that hiring a wedding planner from the onset means that you won’t have any vendors cancel, but that wouldn’t be fair.
To my beautiful couples out there in internet-land reading this – if a wedding vendor cancels, they probably are mortified. Chances are they are super stressed about letting you down, and also with whatever it is that has caused the cancellation. You do have options, and don’t be afraid to ask your original vendor to help you navigate this tricky issue.
Events by Whim is a team of Toronto Wedding Planners committed to creating intimate and elegant celebrations for Toronto’s discerning couples. Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!
- Published in Uncategorized
5 Ways to Have a Charitable Wedding
I bet you’re here because you are interested in having a (partially) charitable wedding.
Huzzah! Kudos to you!
The Whimlets are passionate about giving back and staying grounded and mindful at every stage of life. This is especially important during wedding planning. It’s so easy to get tied up in the larger than life razzle dazzle that come with modern weddings. We urge you to consider giving back a little and have a few tips that will make it super easy and fulfilling!
Host your wedding at a non-profit venue
If you are in a major city, a great way to give back to your community is to host your wedding and pre-wedding events in not-for-profit spaces. These spaces often support the local arts and other honourable causes. This way, the largest part of your budget will be spent supporting important causes in your community. Recently, our team had the pleasure of planning a wedding at The Design Exchange in Toronto, which used to be the old Toronto Stock Exchange building, and is now a patron of the arts.
Skip favours for donations
Wedding favours are fun and all, but how often are they just stuck in a drawer and forgotten about, or even worse, forgotten at the wedding and ultimately thrown away? We say skip the fluff and put your dollars toward helping other people. There are tons of charities both locally and internationally that need your help. For extra style points, consider asking your stationer or calligrapher to write up a cute note for each place setting that works with your theme letting your guests know that you’ve made a donation in celebration of your big day. Chances are your guests will love the gesture and not miss the favour at all!
Donate flowers to nursing homes or hospitals
A growing trend we LOVE and are 100% on board with are groups that come to your venue and collect centrepieces and arrangements leftover after the wedding festivities and deliver them to nursing homes and hospitals. Don’t you love the idea of your centrepieces doing double duty of wowing your guests and warming the heart of someone who could use a pick me up? If you’re in the Greater Toronto Area, check out the Violet Heart Project. This group of good guys take on all of the work and make sure that your arrangements go to those that need them,
Donate that dress
While not every bride is into the idea of buying a gently used gown, you can totally still make weddings more accessible and support a great cause by donating your own dress after your big day. More and more brides are opting for this option, and almost every major city has a shop that caters to this. In Toronto, you can check out The Bride’s Project, which donates proceeds from every single dress sale to cancer research. They also have pretty banging gown options for brides on the hunt for a great deal!
Add a volunteering component to your bachelorette/bachelor party and give back to your community
Not everyone is into getting sloshed and singing off-key karaoke (or whatever else you get up to), but even if you are, there are plenty of ways to give back a little while still having a blast with your besties. We suggest contacting local soup kitchens, food banks, or even do a charitable sporting event to raise funds for your favourite causes. We don’t see why giving back can’t also include celebratory drinks afterwards!
A few final thoughts…
Staying grounded and mindful is the best way to enjoy your festivities and walk into married life with the best possible mindset. Consider kicking off the next chapter of your life by hosting a charitable wedding and giving back to those who may not have as much as you. Even if your budget is stretched thin, there is a way to have a charitable wedding!
Events by Whim is a team of Toronto Wedding Planners committed to creating intimate and elegant celebrations for Toronto’s discerning couples. Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!
- Published in Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
5 Tips for Negotiating with Wedding Vendors
A lot of couples have a big time misconception about wedding planning and negotiating with wedding vendors, and I want to share some tips about how to artfully and tactfully discuss pricing with your vendors. Almost every wedding vendor I know is a small business that has a family to feed, pays taxes and works hard to make magic happen for their clients. Truthfully I don’t know many of them that enjoy being asked to lower their rates, as it devalues the hard work that they put into every event that they work on.
My job as a wedding planner is not to bargain with vendors on pricing. My job as a planner is to educate my couples on the range of costs for the wedding services they need to book, and to help them find vendors that fall within their price point. My role is to also help with creative methods of making the most of their budget.
That being said, I’ve had many couples that have asked me to push for bargains and discounts, and so I’m sharing five tips for how to artfully negotiate while maintaining a great relationship with your vendors.
Do your homework about a vendor’s services before meeting them
It doesn’t make any sense to meet with a vendor who is out of your budget, no matter how much you love them. Be sure to request preliminary pricing with your vendors before meeting with them – especially for service-based businesses. While you may be willing to stretch your budget a bit for a vendor you really love, if they are thousands above your price point, it will save you both time to nix the meeting before it happens.
Be up front with your budget for that vendor’s services
A lot of couples are wary of this questions when vendors ask, and there is a misconception that vendors ask about budget so they can max it out. This simply isn’t true of any ethical vendor. The reason that vendors ask about budget is so they can qualify whether or not they can serve you best, and oftentimes, in the case of product-based businesses, to customize a design that suits your wedding AND your budget.
Ask for custom packages to suit your budget
Speaking of custom quotes, it’s a great idea to ask for customized packages that may suit your wedding better than the standard packages offered by a vendor. For example, if a photographer’s wedding package offers 12 hours of service, but you need 8-10, ask if there is a custom option available that suits the number of hours you need.
Consider requesting a freebie rather than an outright discount
In the example above, I mentioned asking the photographer for a custom package to suit a lower number of hours of wedding day coverage. A great approach would be to ask the photographer to throw in an engagement session, and lower the number of hours, rather than asking the photographer for discounted services.
Many vendors are much more willing to offer a freebie than an outright discount to their pricing. Negotiating on points like albums for photographers, stand rentals for wedding cake vendors, a toss bouquet from a florist, or extra decor for invitation suites from a stationery vendor are a better way to enhance your existing services without devaluing the work of the vendor.
Be polite in your dealings
I cannot stress this point enough. Many wedding vendors get multiple requests for any given wedding date, so approaching with a less-than-polite attitude may result in that vendor not even wanting to chat with you. While wedding vendors are business owners, the vast majority of them are well-intentioned people who want to show up and serve their couples well, and being rude will only result in them refusing your wedding outright. Be prepared for some vendors to be unwilling to negotiate on the pricing for their services – if you push the issue, you may damage your relationship with that vendor.
Finally…
Budget can be a touchy issue while wedding planning, and it can be tempting to want to push for discounts with every vendor. Bear in mind the tips above, and remember that a vendor who feels valued by their clients will likely go far above and beyond to ensure that the wedding is a smashing success, and a vendor who does not feel valued will do the bear minimum that the contract stipulates. Did we miss an important tip for negotiating with wedding vendors? Drop us a line and let us know!
Events by Whim is a team of Toronto Wedding Planners committed to creating intimate and elegant celebrations for Toronto’s discerning couples. Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!
- Published in Vendors, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Wedding Glossary – Toronto Wedding Planner
THERE ARE WAAAY TOO MANY WEDDING INDUSTRY WORDS, TERMS AND ACRONYMS, AM I RIGHT?!
Aisle Runner: fabric or other decor that runs the length of the aisle
A-Line: a dress shape that has a fitted bodice and a slightly flared skirt starting from the waist
Appliqué: a french word that means ‘applied’ and in the wedding industry refers to decorating fabric by applying and layering other cut pieces of fabric over it
Arbor: a group of branches or latticework that forms an archway for a bride and groom to stand beneath during their wedding ceremony.
AV: refers to audio/visual – most venues require you to work with an AV vendor to determine your sound and lighting requirements. Often work hand in hand with a DJ.
Ball gown: a tight, fitted bodice and definite waistline with gathered or pleated full skirt.
Ballet: a veil that falls somewhere between the knee and the ankle. Also known as a Waltz veil
BEO: Banquet Event Order – this is the document that outlines your final selections for food, drink and service times with your reception venue. This powerful doc will determine your service for your reception and must be signed off by the venue and the couple
Bentwood Chair: a popular option associated with laid-back, effortless elegance
Birdcage veil: skims the face and head, never falling below the chin
Black Tie: A formal dress code that calls for tuxedos and evening gowns
- Published in 2019, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
How to Interview Wedding Vendors Like a Boss!
- Published in Uncategorized
Venue Spotlight: Crystal Ballroom in the Omni King Edward Hotel
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.
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!
- Published in 2019, Vendor spotlight, Venues, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
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!
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!
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!
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!
- Published in 2018, Styled Shoot, Trends, Venues, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps