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!
Improve your wedding guests’ experience
Let’s be real, there are SO many little things that matter when planning your wedding. Your guest experience should hover near the top on the list of importance!
There are a million and one things to do when planning a wedding and obviously the ultimate goal is to put together a celebration apt for the union of two people who want to spend the rest of their lives together – however, as much as the day is about the two people getting married, it’s also a day that you’re hosting your nearest and dearest so that they can share your joy. Keeping that in mind, here are a few simple ways to make your guests have a wonderful experience on your special day.
Make arrangements for after the reception
You want to make sure that your guests aren’t planning on drinking and driving so make it easier on them and give some alternatives. Most hotels will give you a special rate if you can guarantee a certain number of rooms and some will even throw in a shuttle. Not only is this great for out of town guests, but also for the people who might have one too many drinks. If a shuttle doesn’t work, you can also try arranging Uber gift cards and that way people can leave whenever they’re ready! wedding guest experience
Make their day comfortable wedding guest experience
There’s different ways to make your wedding more comfortable for your guests depending on what your day looks like. For example, if you’re having an outdoor wedding, it might be nice to provide some refreshments during the ceremony, fans, bug spray, heel protectors for the grass and any other small considerations that’ll improve their overall experience. For a wedding with a long gap between the ceremony and reception, you could provide some activities, snacks, a place to freshen up or even some sort of entertainment. However, my favourite is when couples provide flip-flops for women to give their poor feet a break once the dance floor opens! wedding guest experience
Provide some emergency items wedding guest experience
Someone’s night could be ruined by a drunken uncle who spilt red wine all over a brand new shirt or maybe someone was dropping it too low and made a big hole in the back of their dress. Either way, picking up a few items from the drug store could save someone’s night – think about having a basket in the washroom with a few essentials such as a Tide-to-go stick, safety pins, gum/breath mints, tampons/pads, body spray, etc. These inexpensive items could come in really handy for some of your guests.
Think about the kids wedding guest experience
Unless you’re having an adult’s only reception, you’ll most likely have a few kids who will be bored by the entertainment and will be hungry before dinner even begins. Having some small activities or toys from the dollar store and some small snacks and juice will have parents thanking you. It’ll also probably save you and the rest of your guests from having kids running wild or hearing them cry and complain.
Ultimately, the best way to make your guests feel appreciated is to spend as much time with them as you can, whether that’s on the dance floor or taking a quick selfie with them, they’re really there for you.
- Published in 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.

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.

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!
- Published in 2018, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning
Estates of Sunnybrook Wedding Venue
Problem: You want a beautiful space in Toronto that has old world charm, classic neutral interior design, and green space. Solution:
The Estates of Sunnybrook Wedding Venues!
If you are looking for a beautiful manor venue in Toronto, I encourage you to consider the Estates of Sunnybrook wedding spaces! The Estates of Sunnybrook boasts three historical venues, outdoor ceremony space and beautiful landscaped grounds for wedding photos. Sweet additional bonus – free parking! The venue can comfortably accommodate anywhere from 20-150 guests, so the space is perfect for rehearsals, too! The three spaces are called the Vaughan Estate, the Coach House and the McLean House. The Estates of Sunnybrook has an appropriate space for any event, from a formal ballroom to an intimate retreat. Check out these lovely photos of the venue, captured by Olive Photography!

McLean House – Captured by Olive Photography

Vaughan Estate, decorated by the fabulous Fete Floral Boutique – Captured by Olive Photography
The catering team at the Estates of Sunnybrook have experience creating culinary experiences to suit the pickiest of palettes, and the presentation acts as an extension of the decor. Check out their upcoming 2018 open house to sample the delicious fare and meet their exclusive in-house vendors! If you are looking for a classically stylish and intimate venue, the Estates of Sunnybrook is the wedding venue of your dreams. We guarantee that you and your guests will enjoy every moment of your wedding and you will leave with memories to last a lifetime!
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!
Elegant Jungle-Themed Baby Shower
Decorated with hues of Sage, Gold and Ivory, this lovely safari jungle themed baby shower incorporated trendy greenery in creative vessels to achieve an elegant but wild look. The stunning decor, floral and flower crown was provided by Princess Decor, the Pinterest-worthy cake by Sinfully Sweet Co, and the sound and lighting by Alley Entertainment. Alisha’s beautiful makeup look was crafted by Euphoria Artistry. Our own team provided the coordination and stationery goods.
Check out the beautiful photos from Paisley Peterson Photo.

The Whimlets enjoying one of our own events for a change! Thanks for the shot, Paisley Peterson Photography!
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 2017
Our 2017 Team Photo Shoot with Tom Wang Photography!
We have had a whirlwind 2017 wedding season, and to end it, we decided to get together and have a fun photo shoot with each member of our team. One of our favourite wedding photographers, Tom Wang Photography, offered to capture the details for us, and we couldn’t be happier with the result! We are so excited for you to get to know our team, because this group of passionate planners want you to party with pizzazz!
Meet Alisha
Alisha Chadee, one of Whim’s co-founders and lead planners, has a background in adult education and project management, plus several years of corporate event planning prior to starting up Whim with Michelle. Alisha’s take on wedding planning stems from the belief that if couples are well-educated about the wedding industry and each aspect of the planning process, they’re more likely to make great decisions about their wedding. She cries at every wedding she plans, and her detailed itineraries constantly amaze her vendors. She thinks in floor plans, is a socaholic, and enjoys long walks to the fridge before watching Game of Thrones.
Meet Michelle
Michelle Brijlal, one of Whim’s co-founders, is a professional graphic designer who excels at event design, wedding stationery and custom signage. She feels strongly about personal branding, and thinks every couple has a unique love story, and she’s itching to tell it through print and pretty paper. Though Michelle’s primary passion is event design, she also loves coordination, and it’s not uncommon to see her chasing errant bridal party members and setting up the receiving table just so on your wedding day. When she isn’t loving all over our couples, you can find her dreaming up new adventure, cottaging or hunting for the best oysters in Toronto.
Meet Ilina
Ilina Dasgupta, our lead planner, is a creative genius when it comes to wedding planning. She believes that there is a solution to every problem, and loves working hard and playing harder! Her background in corporate finance has polished her customer service skills, and her other background in professional dance makes her a graceful hoot to have around the office! This firecracker is as creative as she is sweet, and works hard to bring all of her clients’ wedding visions to life!
Meet Sylwia
Sylwia Kwak, our lead coordinator, is a bundle of energy on the Whimlet team! Her extensive experience in adult education, project management, and customer service in the wedding industry shines through when you work with her! She loves to sing and dance, so don’t be surprised if you see her tapping her toes along to the beats your DJ is dropping!
We had such a fantastic early morning shoot with Tom, who is honestly so much fun to hang out with – as many of our wedding couples can tell you! He captured to essence of our team – we try to look fly (and more or less succeed) but we mostly like having fun together while we work! We’d also like to send a huge shout out to Straight Laser for our gorgeous new laser cut sign, which you’ll be able to see in person on display at Canada’s Bridal Show this January 2018, since Whim Event Planning & Design will have its own booth for the very first time! We hope you like our shoot as much as we do, as well as getting to know our team of wedding planners!
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 Uncategorized
The Pregnant Wedding Planner – Confessions From the Trenches
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!
- Published in 2017, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning
Stephanie & Rohan’s Romantic Ancaster Mill Wedding
I met Stephanie and Rohan in a Starbucks near Square One the day after New Years in 2016. It was a chilly day, and I was excited to meet with them because of how they described their wedding vision. Meeting with these two was lovely – their vision of a cozy cottagey winter wedding resonated with me, and within a couple of weeks we got started.
Stephanie and Rohan hired a planner to help them with logistics and details, as they live in Vancouver and travel back and forth to Toronto to visit family. So we started by finding two venues to host both days of their wedding – a traditional Indo-Trinidadian Hindu ceremony followed by a light reception, and the next day, a Western-style chapel ceremony and reception. After searching through a ton of venues, we happened upon Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill, which was a hit with its abundance of natural lighting and large open space in the sanctuary area.
Jessica Rose Photography captured these lovely images from their Hindu ceremony at Vishnu Mandir. As you can see, Stephanie’s style favoured lovely natural lighting, winter greenery and a beautiful open concept mandap. This style was effortlessly captured by the talented Nafeesa of Princess Decor, who thoroughly enjoyed creating this very out-of-box mandap look for our happy couple. Stephanie herself evoked effortless classic beauty and style in her custom made red velvet lengha. Romantic winter wedding
On day two of the wedding, our sweet couple shared a lovely first look and then bridal party photos in the Hamilton area. Their bridal party looked incredible, dressed to the 9s, and were a fun bunch to hang out with!
Afterwards, we all headed over to Ancaster Mill’s beautiful Miller’s Chapel, decorated with fragrant winter greens and romantic candle light. Afterwards, guests enjoyed a lovely cocktail hour, with live music on sax by Florin Clonta, and headed into the Fallsview Room for dinner and dancing.
I loved the little details, like the garland centerpieces, which were the perfect accent in the wood and stone filled Fallsview Room. I also loved the stationery designs that Michelle put together, including the labels for the delicious homemade hot sauce favours, prepared by the groom’s mom! The night even held a few surprises – like a world class musical performance that the groom had tailored specifically for his new bride!Romantic winter wedding
Stephanie and Rohan were a pleasure to work with – we shared many laughs over our plentiful Skype calls, and we enjoyed some fabulous meals together, too! I sincerely miss working with this lovely couple, but I’m so happy to look fondly back on the weekend! A huge thank you to the myriad of vendors that worked together seamlessly to bring this lovely fusion wedding together!
Vendor Love
Venue: Vishnu Mandir (Hindu Ceremony)
Venue: Ancaster Mill (Chapel & Reception)
Photography: Jessica Rose Photography
Planning & Stationery: Whim Event Planning & Design
Decor & Floral: Princess Decor
Sound & DJ: Alley Entertainment
Entertainment: Florin Clonta
Bride’s Accessories: The Borrowed Collection
Bride’s Gown: Truvelle Bridal
Videography: Chris Di Staulo
Hair & Bridal Setting (Hindu Ceremony): Beauty by Sacha
Hair & Makeup (Ancaster Mill): Debbie Sioutis
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 2017, Real Wedding, Wedding
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!
- Published in 2017, Vendor spotlight, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Modern Wedding Inspiration at the Aga Khan Museum
By Alisha Chadee
Earlier this year, a group of wonderful vendors put our heads together and created a modern, elegant styled shoot at the Aga Khan Museum. The concept was simple – use tons of greenery, add touches of gold, and create a design that would make any fan of modern wedding design swoon.
Our stationery diva, Michelle, used touches of rose gold and white ink on heavy card stock and created a fresh, appealing stationery set full of eye-popping detail.
Our friends at Elisabeth and Beau outfitted our beautiful model, dolled up by Beauty by Sacha, with a stunning wedding gown encrusted in Swarovski crystals, with a gorgeous separate skirt. I loved both glam looks – perfectly versatile for a ceremony and formal reception. Our handsome male model wore a special suit designed by Esco Tailored Style. I especially loved the gorgeous black on black seared details – perfectly offset by the vibrant green blooms from our decor and floral vendor, Princess Decor.
Sinfully Sweet Co once again knocked my socks off with a stunning green and gold marbled cake display with lovely hand-made sugar floral details. Each specialty confection was delicious (as the entire team can attest) and absolutely stunning. Vintage Rentals Caledon provided the tables and decor rentals to bring it all together, with table top items provided by our friends at Plate Occasions.
Now what would any wedding be without entertainment? Our friends at Brent Miller Live and Alley Entertainment kept the mood light and fun with funky beats and great lighting. Brent and his band created a magical first dance scene in the Aga Khan Museum’s atrium space and we’re thrilled with how it turned out!
I’m thrilled with all of the beautiful details, like the calligraphy from Written by Love, and the creative shots obtained by Memory Video Productions and Tom Wang and his team. We’re so excited to share the details, already featured on EventSource’s blog, and we can’t wait to get this talented team together again to create more magic! A huge thank you to the staff at the Aga Khan Museum for hosting us and to all of our vendors for working with us to put this stunning shoot together!
Vendor Love:
Creative Concept & Planning: Whim Event Planning & Design
Venue: Aga Khan Museum
Photography: Tom Wang Photography
Videography: Memory Video Productions
Decor & Floral: Princess Decor
Vintage Rentals: Vintage Rentals Caledon
Table Top Rentals: Plate Occasions
Sweets & Cake: Sinfully Sweet Co
Calligraphy: Written by Love
Stationery: RSVP by Whim
Hair & Makeup: Beauty by Sacha
Bridal Attire: Elisabeth & Beau
Bridal Accessories: LUVYT Shop
Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Menswear Sponsor: Esco Tailored Style
Lighting: Alley Ent
Music & Sound: Brent Miller Live
Features: EventSource
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 2017, Styled Shoot
How to Have a Wedding with Intention
by Alisha Chadee
OMG there’s SO much happening on your wedding day – so many people to see, so many flowers to smell, so many drinks to consume! And yet..
Too often the wedding world is focused on the pretty/fun and not necessarily the mindful, so today I thought I’d put a little focus on the latter. I’ve been around the wedding block more than a few times, and I can’t stress how important it is to have a wedding with intention. After you walk down the aisle, the plates are cleared and the last crumb of scrumptious wedding cake is devoured, you’ll notice that the day flew by. We spend months, sometimes years, planning the perfect day, and before you know it, the lights are on and the dance floor is clear. We are strong advocates for a beautiful, personalized day that reflects your couple-y style, but also a day where you take time for what’s important. Here are a few tips to have a wedding with intention.
Start the day with Yoga/Meditation/Quiet Time
I’ve had a few brides and grooms start the day this way – and we literally build it into the itinerary – and its always struck me as a beautiful way to begin a new chapter of your life. Even if you aren’t necessarily into yoga, prayer or meditation, taking a few moments to reflect on your journey together (and separately) that has lead you to this point is a great way to start your wedding day.

Take a few minutes to yourself to reflect on what’s happened and what’s to come – Tara Lilly Photography
Take a few minutes to keep your marriage in mind, and the life you want to have together, and I guarantee that no matter what the day throws at you, you’ll enjoy your day even more. Mindful wedding day
Stay Hydrated
This seems simple enough, yet proper hydration – I mean water and not champagne – is often neglected. It’s a long, long day, even though it flies by, and staying hydrated and well fed is your best bet toward surviving the day and enjoying every minute of it.

We love yummy sips and strongly advocate for them – but don’t neglect your best friend – WATER!
We’ll keep a fresh glass handy for you, but definitely start the day with a glass or two of water to keep you glowing and energized.
Spend Quality Time with your Family
Your wedding morning is a great opportunity to enjoy a warm cuppa with your immediate family and listen to any advice they may have from their years of life experience. Before things get too crazy with makeup and hair and giggling bridal party members and photographers capturing it all, have a few quiet moments with your parents, siblings and grandparents.

Claire experienced the many emotional highs and lows a bride faces on her wedding day. Red Planet Studios Photography.
This is even a great time to share a special card or letter expressing your gratitude to them for all they’ve done to support your journey to the altar. These are precious moments that you’ll cherish forever as you embark on your walk down the aisle to start your new forever and family with your spouse.
Take a Timeout
A lot happens on your wedding day. If you’ve ever seen one of the Whimlets’ timelines, there is seriously a lot packed in there. Between family, bridal party and friend photos, greeting your guests and partying the night away, you barely get any time to soak in the fact that you just got married to the love of your life! As a result, we strongly advocate taking about 15 minutes at some point to just be present with your new spouse. We usually build this in during cocktail hour or after your ceremony if we can manage it. It’s lovely to spend a few moments alone together, away from everyone else, including us and your photographers, to just be together.

Celia and Stud took a few minutes alone to just enjoy each other. In Your Prime Photography
Enjoy a few sips and snacks, giggle together about your ceremony or just do whatever – just take the time to be together before heading back out and socializing to your hearts’ content. You’ll thank us later – trust me!
And there you have it – four simple ways to stay present, grounded and mindful, and to have a wedding with intention. Let’s face it, your wedding day will eventually end (sob!), but the marriage coming afterwards is what is even more important, and we want you to look back on your wedding day as not just a lovely celebration, but the start of something very special in your matrimonial journey.
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 2017, Real Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps