Creative Guestbook Ideas for the Fun Bride
By Alisha Chadee
You’ve picked your wedding colour scheme, you’ve picked your wedding theme and your planning is coming along nicely. Wonderful! Time for the final details, like your wedding guestbook. Here’s an excellent opportunity to showcase your theme in a creative way! There are tons of ways to showcase your creativity and leaving the boring old guestbook in the past. Where it belongs. Forever. Without further ado…
Creative Guestbook Ideas
The Whimlets have planned and coordinated a ton of weddings over the years, and we’ve always advocated for as much creativity as possible. One of our favourite areas to incorporate this is in the guestbook and receiving line items. Guests enjoy the fun extras and out of box ideas that show you care about their experience. For example, one of our couples featured a guestbook tree. The guestbook tree featured an Fujufilm Instax camera with slips of paper for guests to fasten their instant photos and leave a message. The messages were then tied onto the tree and created the leaves. The Diya Decor tree was visually stunning, standing at 6ft tall, and had all of the guests raving.
I’ve always loved simplicity – it’s the ultimate sophistication, right? In that spirit, I love the idea of artwork that guest can sign. These pieces are then hung in the bride and groom’s home after the wedding. Check out this artwork created from the thumbprints of the bride and groom, fashioned into a heart. Guests signed around it and the bride and groom displayed it in their home. I really like the underlying message of two becoming one.
What do you and your fiancé like to do? What are your hobbies? For example, couples who enjoy travel may consider using a globe and have guests sign it. This would be a neat piece to display in an office or in a family room. Like I said before, I love creative guestbook ideas that double as art!
As an alternative to this idea, rather than using a globe, use a map and frame it afterwards!
Are you a wine lover? Yeah, so am I! Start collecting those corks and have guests sign and add them to a shadow box! The shadow box can be personalized to include your wedding monogram and brand!
I loveeeee Jenga! It’s such a fun game for groups or even a low-key date night. My husband and I play all the time and it turns into a battle royale! I digress.. Have your guests sign Jenga pieces on one side and add a piece of advice on the other! You’ll have fun playing afterwards and the game might even become a keepsake for your future children!
Creative guestbook ideas are all around us – just think about the activities that you enjoy as a couple and the ideas will flow! How did you like the suggestions that I’ve given you? Leave me a comment and let me know! If you are looking for help with putting together your dream wedding, contact us today!
- Published in 2015, Trends, Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Wedding Venues in the GTA: Volume 1: Unique Wedding Venues
Unique Wedding Venues in the GTA
If you’re in the process of planning a Toronto wedding, I’m sure you know how endless the possibilities are when it comes to choosing a venue. Planning a wedding in a city brimming with stunning wedding venues to choose from can become overwhelming very quickly. A wedding planner often comes in handy when it comes to this aspect of the planning, but if you’re on your own the options can seem endless. With all of these choices, how do you know what to look for?
Worry not, we’ve created a comprehensive list of wedding venues in the GTA to help you decide where to have your big day; this is only the first post of a new series where we will list a number wedding venues in and around the GTA. Focusing on the aesthetics of each venue, we’ve linked the website to each respective site below, so that you and inquire about pricing and decide which works best for your budget. For our first addition to this series, we’ve chosen unique and “artsy” venues that would likely be best suited for those who aren’t fond of garden gazebos and banquet halls, and who would like something a little different for their nuptials. Keep reading to find out what are some of our favorite wedding venues in the GTA!
Imagine the insane wedding pictures you’d be able to get, having your nuptials inside Toronto’s aquarium that houses jellyfish, stingrays, and a variety of exotic fish.
The only thing cooler than saying your I do’s alongside sharks is doing it beside dinosaurs. Choose to get married in your favorite exhibit at the ROM!
Located in Toronto’s quaint yet popular Distillery District, Arta Gallery exhibits world-class pieces from international artists.
Get married in the Gardiner Museum’s Terrace room, where you’ll have a stunning view of Queen’s Park through their floor-ceiling-windows. The ceramic pieces in the actual museum will have your guests raving!
Originally a stone distilling and milling building, the Fermenting Cellar features heavy timber beams and trusses, as well as Kingston limestone walls from its initial construction in 1861.
This multi-purpose lounge and venue space features incredible exposed brick walls, as well as tasteful vintage furniture that will transport you back to the 19th century Victorian era.
Located on Queen Street West and constantly featuring new exhibitions by a variety of artists and photographers, Twist gallery is the perfect venue for a modern, intimate wedding in the city.
Aside from the food, the architecture of this restaurant is the real stunner. High pine ceiling, concrete floors, exposed brick walls, and reclaimed timber bar and tables combine the contemporary style with the historic tradition of the Distillery District.
Originally built in 1907 as a department store, the Burroughes now functions as an event venue, boutique retail spaces, and office suites on the ever-trendy Queen Street West.
The University Club of Toronto
Prestigiously located on Toronto’s University Avenue in the heart of the city, the University Club of Toronto is an inspiring and historical space. To top it all off, there’s access to a treasured wine cellar!
It’s a castle… Need we say more? Doesn’t everyone dream about getting married in a castle? This Gothic revival style house and garden is located in midtown Toronto was built in 1911. It’s now a museum and landmark with decorated suites, secret passages, stately towers, estate gardens as well as luxurious stables
This is only a small portion of the available wedding venues in the GTA. If none of these sites pique your interest, look out for our next addition to this series, where we’ll be featuring more tradition banquet hall styled venues. Weddin
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Bridal Party Duties – Toronto Wedding Planner
Bridal Party Duties
What the heck is everyone supposed to do?!
You chose your bridesmaids and groomsmen because they’re the ones you love most, and you want to be surrounded by good vibes and positive people on your wedding day. Although they’ll help you have the most amazing wedding day full of memories you’ll never forget, they also have certain duties they need to fulfill. Here are a few key bridal party duties we think that they should handle:
Make sure the bride AND groom make it to the wedding in one piece.
There are a million and one things that can go wrong on the day of your wedding, but none of those things matter as long as both you and your significant other make it down the aisle and live out your happily ever after. Cold feet, flat tires, hysterical family members, and wardrobe malfunctions are all crises that can be diffused by your loving bridal party. You can choose to prep them before the big day with all of the emergency phone numbers and materials they may need, so that they can take care of all the minor calamities themselves.
Throw the bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Let’s be real, you and your spouse to be haven’t been ‘single’ since you met, but you can both still enjoy your respective parties. Take this chance to go out and really appreciate the friends who have been there for all the upsand downs, and who’ll continue to support you. Let your bridal party spoil you and take care of you on your bachelor or bachelorette party- let free, relax, and enjoy yourself before the big day!
Host the bridal shower.
This job is typically left up to the bridesmaids, but the groomsmen can definitely be enlisted to help with the bridal shower as well! There’s a lot that goes into planning a shower- decor, venue, food, favors, games, and more. This is an important event that requires a copious amount of care and attention to detail- it’s where you’ll get (almost) everything you need to start your new life with your husband or wife to be!
Go to dress fittings with the bride.
Bridesmaids, the most important thing you can do at your bride’s dress fitting is learn how to properly bustle her dress! You know what they say: a dress is only as beautiful as its bustle. Well, they don’t say that… but they should. Many brides will only let their train bask in its full glory during the ceremony, and will spend the majority of their reception with their dress bustled. Since you’ll be wearing your bustle for a while, it’ll likely be in pictures- and you don’t want to be looking at a lopsided bustle in your wedding pictures 30 years from now.
Help with the details.
Tying and curling ribbons on 250 wedding favours is a tedious task, but your bridal party should be prepared to do just that. It’s important that they lend a helping hand to you with all of the little details- you have a ton going on as it is, and we’re sure any help is appreciated. After all, they are your maids and men, they should be doing all they can to make your life easier!
These are just some general guidelines of what your bridal party should be handling throughout your wedding planning process. Don’t be afraid to enlist them to some heavy lifting- they’re honored enough to be an integral part of your big day, and they should help make it come to life!
- Published in 2015, Trends, Uncategorized, Wedding, Wedding TIps
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 Events by Whim 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
Why Winter Weddings are Awesome – Toronto Wedding Planner
Winter is the red headed stepchild of the wedding season, and everyone knows it. But why are the winter months so unpopular for weddings? Well, there are the obvious reasons- it’s usually freezing up here in Canada, and no bride wants a slush and salt stained train. This may be true, but I’m still a believer that winter weddings are some of the best. Don’t disagree with me just yet- take a look at this list of why winter weddings are awesome:
- Beautiful pictures.
You can get the best of both worlds; you can pose indoors with fresh flowers, and you can also take some breathtaking winter wonderland-inspired pictures outside as well.
- You don’t have to get hung up on the weather.
If you’re having an outdoor wedding in the summer, you’d probably be checking the forecast for your big day about every 7 seconds. But in the winter you’ll more than likely be indoors, so there’s nothing to worry about! If you desire an outdoor wedding, there’s also the option of creating a winter wonderland scene inside your venue to get that wintery ambiance, even indoors.
- The holiday season.
Many of your guests likely have time off this time of year, which would make it a lot more convenient and easier on family and friends who are coming from out of town to make it to your big day. Not to mention, everyone’s in the mood for some good food, drinks, and dancing during the holidays.
- Discounted venue prices.
Winter months are usually the off season for many venues- this means heavily discounted prices for banquet halls, as well as their catering services in some cases. This way, you can opt for that premium open bar and midnight buffet without the hefty price tag!
- Flowers aren’t necessary.
Flowers aren’t really a necessity at any wedding, but it’s definitely easier to get away with creating a breathtaking winter atmosphere without them. You can use spray painted branches in lieu of fresh blossoms to decorate your aisle, or even as a component of your centerpieces.
But if you do go the flower route, gorgeous bouquets like this one are a perfect combination of cozy and elegant:
- Winter fashion.
We LOVE winter wedding fashion. Those fur boleros and muffs look so incredibly elegant and classy on any bride, and even bridesmaids. And plus side- you won’t get sweaty! As long as you protect your locks with an umbrella if it’s snowing, you’ll keep cool (and hopefully collected) throughout the day.
- You can include a bunch of cute and cozy details.
Think fireplaces, warm vanilla scented candles, and tea lights. Lighting can be a key factor in creating a cozy, intimate setting for your winter nuptials. Your favors can also reflect your choice of season- if you’re planning your wedding around the holidays, a little Christmas ornament personalized with your names and wedding date is a cute idea for a little keepsake for your guests.
- You’ll have a much easier time nabbing the vendors you want.
Since not many brides and grooms opt for a winter wedding, popular vendors aren’t typically booked solid too far in advance.This way, you’ll avoid the scramble and won’t be forced to settle for a hole-in-the-wall bakery that only makes wedding cakes that look like they came straight out of the 90’s. Like venues, many of these wedding vendors may offer reduced prices during the winter months since it’s their downtime, and they likely aren’t busy.
Still think winter weddings aren’t that great? Well, maybe you do. But hopefully we gave you a new perspective on how awesome winter weddings can be. Are you planning a winter wedding, or have you been to one recently? Leave us a comment letting us know your experience, and what you love about winter weddings!
- Published in Trends
Introducing Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year: Marsala
The Pantone Color Institute recently announced Marsala 18-1438 as their choice for 2015’s color of the year! Described as a “naturally robust and earthy wine red” on Pantone’s website, we are ecstatic about this color palette.
We’ve seen variations this color show up in quite a few different areas this year already- in the dark, sultry makeup trend that’s so popular this season and even on the red carpet. With all of the hype around this vampy palette, we aren’t surprised Pantone chose to feature it this year.
Marsala is a pretty cool name for a color, right? We thought so too. Marsala is a town in Italy, quite famous for their wine- no wonder this hue made us crave a glass of red.
“Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness,” states the institute.
This color is a little more sultry and universally pleasing than past colors of the year, such as Tangerine Tango, Mimosa, and last year’s Radiant Orchid. The versatility of this shade was also a major selling point: “it translates beautifully to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings, and interiors.” Marsala is also unisex, flattering the stylish tastes of males and females alike.
The Pantone color institute also says that that this shade “enriches [the] mind, body, and soul, exuding confidence and stability. Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us into its embracing warmth.” Whoa. That’s a whole lot for a color to accomplish… but if anyone can do it, Marsala can.
We love this color and the palette it belongs to, and cannot wait to make use of it with some of our clients in the upcoming year!
Do you think Pantone made the right choice this year? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!
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