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!
Boho Glam Broadview Hotel Wedding
Monday, 11 February 2019
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
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Demelza and Shaan’s Romantic Fusion Wedding at Pearson Convention Centre
Thursday, 17 January 2019
Do you love greenery and pops of colour? Do you love fusion fetes with amazing food? If so, Demelza and Shaan’s wedding will knock your socks off! Our sweet couple tied the knot in June of 2018, with the type of wedding details that make our hearts sing! This wedding is the perfect example of how a space can be completely transformed with drapery, lighting and greenery.
Shauna Heron Photography
Particular details that we love include the use of greenery and edison bulbs to create a unique and magical mandap design and that this carried through nicely into the reception. I love the secret garden feel of this mandap style. I’m also a huge fan of open concept mandap designs, especially for larger weddings because there really isn’t a bad seat in the house for any of your guests. The drapery and lighting was soft and elegant, and the wispy greenery juxtaposed nicely against the bride’s colourful attire.
Speaking of attire, another detail that I loved is how stylish our couple is – they looked like movie stars the entire weekend. From Hindu ceremony to reception, each outfit was incredible! It’s hard to decide on a favourite, but each outfit suited the room design perfectly. We loved Demelza’s pink lengha, as well as her white reception gown.
Demelza and Shaan’s reception design required a room flip from Hindu ceremony to reception as guests mingled and the couple refreshed and changed outfits. We love, love, love the versatile design of the stage, which incorporated the mandap detailing and added a ton of greenery with bright colours onto the reception tables. The abundant use of greens made for very sumptuous centerpieces that popped against the backdrop of the hall. Hats off to the creative team at Xclusive Designs for creating this masterpiece – it is definitely one of our favourites from 2018!
We’re sure you are going to love the details so take a peek at Shauna Heron Photography’s gorgeous captures, and let us know what you think! As far as fusion weddings go, this one takes the cake! A huge thank you to the fantastic team of vendors who came together to make this beautiful wedding a reality! Demelza and Shaan, it was a privilege being your wedding planning team, and we are wishing you the best that life has to offer and the happiest married life!
Vendor Love
CEREMONY VENUE: Pearson Convention Centre
RECEPTION VENUE: Pearson Convention Centre
PLANNERS: Whim Event Planning & Design
PHOTOGRAPHER: Shauna Heron Photography
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henjo Films
FLORIST/DECOR/DESIGN: Xclusive Designs
RENTALS: Cast & Co
CAKE ARTIST: Maria Pereira
BAND/DJ: Empire Entertainment
MAKE-UP/HAIR ARTISTS: Beauty by Vic – Victoria Price Makeup Artistry, Alicia Azeez
CATERING: The Host
HORSE: Fairytale Horse and Carriage
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
Modern Romantic Fusion Wedding in Milton
Thursday, 10 January 2019
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.
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!
- Published in 2018, Real Wedding, Wedding, Wedding Planning
Bridesmaids Dresses That Are Anything But Basic!
Tuesday, 20 November 2018
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!
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.
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!
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!
- Published in 2018, Colours, Trends, Vendors, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Wedding Photography Styles
Wednesday, 24 October 2018
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.
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.
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!
- Published in 2018, Vendors, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Ryan and Alycia’s Romantic Mississauga Wedding
Monday, 24 September 2018
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.
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.
A huge thanks to our dearest Yasmeen of Muse Moi Studios for capturing these lovely photos of our dearest couple. Ryan and Alycia, we are 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! We hope you all enjoyed this romantic Mississauga wedding.
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!
- Published in 2018, Real Wedding, Wedding Planning
Improve your wedding guests’ experience
Friday, 06 July 2018
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
Monday, 12 February 2018
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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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
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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.
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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