Bridal Party Gift Ideas
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Your bridal party has (hopefully) been at your beck and call throughout the planning of your wedding, and it’s customary to reward their efforts with a token of your appreciation upon the arrival of your big day. We know that it can be pretty tough to choose one item that you think all of your bridesmaids or groomsmen would appreciate, so we’ve come up with a list of a couple different options for bridal party gifts that we think anyone would be happy to receive!. Keep on reading if you’d like to find out about some awesome bridal party favors.
BRIDAL PARTY GIFT IDEAS
Here are some gifts we think your bridesmaids would swoon over:
Foldable Flats
These babies will be the superheroes of the day for your bridesmaids, and probably for you, too. Easy to fold up and stuff into your clutch, your bridesmaids will be forever thankful when they realize can pull these comfy flats out and finally take off the heels that they’ve been teetering in all day. This is a great option, especially if you’re on budget; we’ve found these Sidekicks Foldable Ballet Flats on Amazon for less than $20!
Compact
If your bridesmaids are into makeup, and even if they’re not, there’s no doubt they could use a cute little compact to throw in their purse. Useful when touching up your lipstick on the way to work or taming those frizzies once you get to the office, we’re positive your bridesmaids would appreciate this present. You can find reasonably priced engraveable compacts at Things Remembered.
Best Friend Bangle
Jewelry can be a risky choice, since not everyone has the same taste. However, if you choose something that’s simple and very basic, all of your maids will be able to work it into their everyday accessories. That’s why we love the idea of matching bangles- simple, and easy to wear! Kate Spade has some gorgeous Bridesmaid Idiom Bracelets that come in both gold and silver.
Keepsake/ Jewelry Box
You can’ go wrong with a jewelry box. We’re sure most of your bridesmaids could probably use a place to keep their more precious jewelry. You can’t go wrong with this adorable little box from Things Engraved.
PRO TIP: IF YOU CAN GET IT ENGRAVED OR MONOGRAMMED, DO IT. PERSONALIZING YOUR BRIDAL PARTY GIFTS IS A LITTLE STEP THAT’LL SHOW THEM HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THEM.
We’re sure the men in your party would appreciate these ideas:
Cufflinks
This is one of the most universal presents you can choose for your groomsmen; at some point or another, we’re sure they’ll need a nice pair of cufflinks. Easy to choose, easy to please. Find different styles of cufflinks to suit your men at Brookstone.
Pocket Watch
Every groomsmen should have a classic timepiece in their collection. Not to mention, this would be a very dapper accessory for them on your big day! Spruce up the accessory wardrobe of your groomsmen with a classy pocket watch from Things Engraved.
Money Clip or Card Case
Save your groomsmen from those dreaded bulky wallet bulges by gifting them a trendy money clip or card case. Easy to keep cash or cards handy without having to carry around a full-sized wallet, this would be a phenomenal present that would come in handy during those special occasions. You can find sleek, engravable money clips and card cases at stores like Things Remembered.
Valet Box
Pretty much a jewelry box for boys, we’re positive your groomsmen would find themselves storing their most valuable items in a spiffy valet box from The Wedding Shoppe.
Here are a few more things we think everyone would love:
Passport Cover
This option (and the next) are fantastic ideas, especially if you’re having a destination wedding. Passport covers are a small way to make your travels feel a little more luxe. We’ve seen some adorable covers on Etsy!
Luggage Tag
A personalized leather luggage tag would be the perfect way for your bridal party to easily identify their bags. Getting tags monogrammed with each person’s initials in gold or silver is a cute way to spruce this option up! Check out the options on Shutterfly; you could even add photos to the tags that they offer!
Robe
Your hardworking bridal party will definitely deserve a little R&R after your big day, and a fluffy robe would be the perfect relaxation accessory. The Bay has some luxurious robes that you could also get monogrammed.
Flask
A classy little flask would be a great gift for your entire bridal party- who doesn’t like to keep a good swig of vodka handy? Things Remembered has some classy designs to choose from.
This list definitely isn’t exhaustive, but we’ve outlined some pretty cute options that we hope will help you on the quest of searching for your perfect bridal party presents. Have you been a part of a bridal party and received an awesome token of appreciation? Think we left out any cool options? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
XOXO,
The Whimlets
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 2016, Uncategorized, Wedding, Wedding TIps
Wedding Planners: Necessity or Luxury?
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Not many couples realize how integral hiring a wedding planner can be, until they start trying to plan their big day on their own. Wedding planners are basically there to relieve some (all) of the stress from the soon-to-be newlyweds, and make their dreams come to life. Although many couples do manage to pull their wedding day off without the expertise of a certified wedding planner, there are definitely perks to hiring one. Keep on reading if you’d like to find out some of the merits of having a wedding planner!
What can a wedding planner offer you?
Stress Relief
If this is the first event you’ve planned on your known, chances are you haven’t worked with any of the vendors that you now have the option to hire. Shopping around to various vendors for food, decor, flowers, music, and cake, just to name a few, can take a while. With a wedding planner, they’ve already been around the block a few times, and likely know who would be your best bet, depending on your personal vision and budget. You can save a ton of time at this stage of planning, when you’ve got a wedding planner handy.
On the day of your wedding, we’re assuming that you probably won’t have time to be focused on whether the right chair covers were delivered to the venue, or if the flowers will arrive on time. Most wedding planners offer day-of coordination, which pretty much means they’ll take care of everything on the day of your wedding, so that you don’t have to deal with any mishaps (knock on wood) yourself. Even if you don’t want to spend the cash on a planner from start to beginning, it’s a good idea to think about day-of coordination, for the sake of your own sanity!
Getting what you want!
Wedding planner can come in especially handy if you’re working with a tight deadline. We’re all prone to procrastinating every now and then, but it can become pretty tough to secure a vendor or venue if you wait too long- especially if you’re planning your I do’s during wedding season, as many couples are! With a wedding planner at your side, you’ll likely have a better chance at nabbing some great vendors, even at short notice. Wedding planners usually have relationships with a number of vendors around their city, which can totally be of benefit to you- sometimes your planner can even call in a favor if they really need to!
You’ve probably been dreaming about this day for months, even years. But when it comes down to actually planning it, the harsh reality of real life can sometimes sweep away some of your fantastical ideas. Wedding planners are no stranger when it comes to working with a budget, and can be an amazing source for ideas that’ll make your dream wedding a reality, but won’t break the bank. From DIY’s to finding great deals, your wedding planner will do anything to make your vision come to life!
With all this being said, it’s totally possible to plan and execute your own wedding beautifully. However, wedding planners definitely make it easier on you during the planning process as well as on your big day. It really depends on your creative ability and patience for planning- deciding whether or not you need a wedding planner at your side is a personal decision. We’re sure your wedding will be a stunning affair either way!
Think we left out any important details? Drop us a line and let us know what you think about 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 2016, Budget, Uncategorized, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Summer Bridal Shower Inspiration
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Centerpieces are can be a point of contention when planning a wedding: Big or small? Flowers or none? Artificial or real? The burden of having to come up with a magnificent centerpiece for your wedding day is heavy enough, without having to think about table decor at your bridal shower. Although we prefer to work with professional florists for flawless results on your big day, you can totally DIY your way to some cute centerpieces for your bridal shower. For those of you that that would rather take a simpler route for your bridal shower, we’ve got a few options that don’t take much prep work.
We’ve found some adorable centerpiece ideas that are fast and easy to put together- and don’t worry, not ALL of them are floral. Keep on reading if you’d like some inspiration for quick and easy bridal shower centerpieces!
DIY Bridal Shower Centerpieces
Floral
Hydrangeas are a great option if you want to incorporate fresh flowers into your decor, but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg. Sticking one or two stems in a vase or mason jar can make a small yet full arrangement. You can’t go wrong sticking with a classic white, or you can opt for blue, pink, green, or even purple hydrangeas. Wrap a ribbon around your vase, and you’ve got an adorable centerpiece that took no more than 10 minutes to put together!
Tulips can be found in an array of colors, and are one of those flowers that don’t have to be in abundance to look pretty. Having a few tulips in a small vase, and using the blossom’s natural foliage to fill in the sparse areas can create a tall, elegant centerpiece!
Roses are another great option. Some people automatically think a rose-themed centerpiece would be insanely expensive, but they don’t have to be. Roses are so exquisitely beautiful on their own, and don’t necessarily need to be presented in bouquets to be stunning. Having one short rose placed in a quaint little drinking glass or mason jar can make for a small, very cute centerpiece. This option would be better suited for a more casual event, like a backyard shower. We love this idea- it is the definition of cute and quaint!
PRO DIY TIP: Tying a piece of ribbon or twine around the outside of your vases/jars would be a super cute addition to any of these options!
Non-Floral
Depending on how casual your shower is, you could opt for some fruit on your tables. It’s a fun way to keep the ambiance light and fresh, especially for a summertime wedding. Brightly colored produce like green apples, lemons, oranges, and lime are all fantastic options. By filling a decent sized vase with your desired fruit, you can create a fun and interesting centerpiece. You could even stick a few seasonal flowers in between, as an added embellishment.
Candles are another great option, especially if you aren’t a fan of fresh flowers. Filling either a tall or short vase with colored gravel or beads that match your theme, and adding a candle on top is a simple way to DIY your way to an elegant centerpiece.
Another idea that might suit you if you want to avoid the floral route, is branches. Sounds a little weird and cryptic, we know. But if you go to an art supply store like Michael’s, you can find some artsy faux branches that you can coat with some white spray paint, and turn into a unique centerpiece. This option would be ideal for those of you looking for a taller arrangement for your tables. After sticking your freshly painted (or bare, for a more rustic feel) branches in a vase, you can choose to hang some bling or tea lights from them to amp it up a little.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to options for DIY centerpieces for your bridal shower. Have you seen any awesome DIY centerpieces lately, or created one yourself? Leave us a comment down below and let us know your thoughts on these quick and easy centerpieces!
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 2016, Trends, Uncategorized, Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Live Music Options for your Wedding Ceremony
By Tarisha Beniprashad
For some, the wedding reception is the main event of all their wedding festivities, but we’re strong believers that your ceremony should be the highlight. Vowing your love and life to your SO in front of your friends and family is a significant and beautiful affair, and should be decorated as such! Hiring a live musician or vocalist is a fantastic way to accentuate the elegance of your ceremony. We’ve compiled a list (you know us Whimlets love lists) of some live music options that we think would give your ceremony an extra flair! Keep on reading if you’d like some…
Live music options for your wedding ceremony!
Pianist
As long as there’s a piano at your venue, it’s tough to compete with this classic sound. There are
some incredible pianists in the GTA like Liz Craig who can play practically anything, making this a versatile option for any ceremony.
Harpist
If your venue’s got the space to accommodate the instrument and you really want to up the elegance factor, a harpist is the way to go. Whether your harpist is an angel or not, we guarantee a harp will sound angelic at your ceremony! Joanna Jordan is a fantastic harpist based in Toronto, and would definitely emphasize the grandeur of your vows.
Violinist
A violinist is an ideal option for almost any wedding. Your violinist can play songs and adjust their sound to suit the tone of your ceremony, whether its a backyard affair, or a black tie event. We’re big fans of Jill Daley’s versatile sound.
Organist
Organs are usually hidden out of sight and most commonly found in churches, so you’ll probably have a more formal ceremony if you’re opting to have the sounds of the organ grace the ears of your guests before your ceremony. You can’t go wrong with this traditional sound!
Vocalist
What’s more romantic than walking towards your groom to the sweet lyrics of your special song? Nothing, that’s what. Susan Dunstan is an amazing singer, and we’re sure she’d moisten some eyes before you even walk down the aisle!
Do you really think we could’ve wrote this article without special mention of the greatest wedding singer of all time?
Ensemble
You probably won’t opt for a full out wedding band for your ceremony, but a small ensemble or even a quartet would be a lovely option to orchestrate your processional. We’re big fans of violin and cello duets; check out Walla Music for some heavenly ensembles, and samples of their work!
Band
Hiring a versatile band is another great option if you’d like to incorporate live music into your ceremony. From a graceful ceremony duo to a full dance band at your reception, groups like Brent Miller Live can entertain your guests throughout the days events! We had the privilege of hearing this band live at the 2016 WPIC kick off at The Forth, and we can personally assure you they’ve got an amazing sound!
This list ins’t exhaustive, but we hope that we’ve helped you out a little when contemplating your options when it come to live music at your wedding ceremony. You can’t go wrong with any of these sounds- any of them would be the perfect way to begin your happily ever after!
Leave us a comment and let us know what you think about live music at wedding ceremonies, and if you think we missed any interesting options!
xoxo,
The Whimlets
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 2015, GTA, Trends, Uncategorized, Vendors, Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Wedding Photography – Why so Pricey!?
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Wedding photography pricing is a hotly debated subject. If you’ve never planned an event before, hiring a professional photographer for your wedding day can be one of the most shockingly priced items that you encounter. It may seem like your photographer just has to collect some snaps on your big day, print them out, and slap them in an album but there’s a ton of work behind the scenes that needs to happen in order for your photos to come out as flawless as your wedding day. We’ve done some research and spoken to professional photographer Nirvanie Srikishun and got all the dirty details, so if you’re wondering why wedding photography is so expensive, just keep on reading.
Here’s a sampling of shots that Nirvanie has done with our team!
Why is Wedding Photography so Expensive?
Transportation
Typically, photographers need to travel to at least 3-4 different locations on your wedding day. From capturing the moments while you’re getting ready before you say you I dos, to snapping pictures of your first kiss and first dance, your photographer needs to make their way around in a timely manner on your big day. With public transportation being out of the question with all of the bulky equipment they’ve got to carry around, gas, insurance, and car payments need to be factored into their rate.
Advertising
Many photographers generate business by marketing themselves online. From purchasing advertisement space on a popular website to paying the monthly instalments to maintain their own website, marketing their services can get pricey. Professionals sometimes include their online portfolio and create galleries on their website of your photos so your guests have access as well. Because of all the traffic to their site, some opt to hire services to design the layout, which is another additional cost.
Equipment
Photographers are equipped with more than just one camera. Different lenses, batteries, memory cards, filters, lightboxes, light stands, and umbrellas all need to be used to get those perfect snapshots of your big day. Not to mention the backups of all of these items, just in case something breaks or malfunctions. As if buying all of this gear isn’t expensive enough, it also needs to be insured. Chances are, if a wedding photographer is charging too-good-to-be-true prices, they likely aren’t up to date with great equipment. Or even worse – what happens if their camera malfunctions at the wedding? A true professional has backups and extra equipment, and it costs money to maintain it all.
Staff
Unless your wedding is an intimate affair, you’ll probably see more than one photographer making their way around your event. An assistant and/or second shooter may be need to be hired by your primary photographer, in order for them to collect a wide variety of pictures, so that you can remember every last detail!
Labour
Your photographer will likely be with your from the time you get dressed until the population of the dance floor starts to thin out. Spending from 8-14 hours with you on your wedding day alone, (excluding the pre and post wedding festivities in the days before and following) your photographer will spend an additional 20-25 hours just editing your pictures afterwards. That $300/hour rate on the day of is starting to seem a little less outrageous, isn’t it? That rate also has to account for the time it takes to edit and compile your photos afterwards.
Printing
But the work isn’t over once your images are edited. Your photographer must design your wedding album and order any additional prints that you request. Paying for shipping and picking them up from the post office are a few more additional costs.
Education
Chances are, the person you hire to capture the magical moments of your wedding day didn’t just buy a camera one day and decide to be a photographer. Many are still paying off their student loans from when they were initially trained how to create the beautiful images you’ll be admiring for years to come. It’s also important for photographer to regularly attend different workshops and seminars to keep up with new techniques and trends, which can also cost a pretty penny! We swear by professional wedding photography companies who believe in continuous education and self-improvement.
We realize that dishing out thousands of dollars for a photographer can seem a little excessive at first, but we hope this post has helped you understand why their rates are anything but excessive. With all the work you’ve been putting in to plan every detail of your big day, you’ll want to remember it in all of its glory, for years to come! You don’t have to splurge on the most expensive and extravagant package, but don’t be afraid to drop some coin on a professional you believe will do a great job.
Another super, super important point to consider is, if the price is too low – how are they sustaining themselves? If equipment fails the week before your wedding, how will a very low budget photographer replace expensive pieces? Be real with yourself, and we promise, you won’t regret it!
A huge thank you to Nirvanie Srikishun Photography for speaking with us about her industry! Drop us a line and let us know what you think about wedding photography pricing.
xoxo,
The Whimlets
- Published in 2016, Budget, Uncategorized, Vendors, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Pretty Wedding Paper Goods
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Whether you like it or not, you’ll more than likely have some type of stationery involved on your big day: whether it be a program or guest card, it’ll be there. However, you can use this to your advantage- personalizing these wedding paper goods and having them as an extension of your theme can be a fantastic little embellishment to your decor! Here are a few options you can use to…
Spice up your wedding paper goods!
The extra effort in the smaller details of your big day will really show your guests that you’ve gone the extra mile, and will really pull your overall theme together. Here are some paper goods that are sure to make their way into your wedding, and that you can use to give your theme that extra oomph!
Menus
Usually, there is a menu to complement each place setting listing the wine options, any hors d’oeuvres, and options for the main course and dessert. Sometimes, especially when there is family style dining, couples will opt to place one menu in the middle of the table. The organization of your menus should depend on the style and tone of your dining experience! wedding paper goods
Table Numbers
At larger wedding, it’s usually a good idea to have your tables numbered- this will make it easier for your guests to find their assigned table, and not to mention help out the waiters making their way through the maze of tables in your reception space! You can add an extra flair to your table numbers by putting them in decorative frames, allowing them look like a natural part of your decor. wedding paper goods
Wedding Favour Tags
Wedding favours are a great idea to thank your guests for joining you on your big day, and to commemorate the momentous occasion. Adding a cutely designed paper tag to any type of favour, attached with ribbon to match your theme will add a lovely personal touch. Don’t be afraid to have fun with this one! With the champagne flowing, we’re sure your guests will definitely appreciate something cute and quirky at the end of the night. Favour tags are a great way to incorporate your wedding logo to personalize your wedding further.wedding paper goods
Escort Cards
More suited towards larger weddings, escort cards are typically organized just outside of the reception hall. You can easily make the display of your escort cards a focal point before your guests enter the main reception area. We love the idea of attaching cards to a small goodies like a bottle of soda or sweet treat, just to make your guests smile a little more! wedding paper goods
Seating Chart
A better option for a smaller wedding, you can let your imagination run wild when designing your seating chart. We know how hard it was to finalize the seating arrangements, so don’t be afraid to have fun with this one! Here are some a few ideas we think will spark your imagination:
Ceremony & Reception Programs
If you know that a number of yours guests will be unfamiliar with the details of your ceremony, it would be a good idea to have a little program detailing the proceedings. For example, a Hindu wedding that I recently attended handed out programs to all guests, describing all of the religious rites that were to be performed, and their significance. This was a great touch, since all guests were able to follow the two hour ceremony. Instead of opting for a simple white card-stock, get creative! If you’re having a destination wedding, you can create programs in the shape of the country where your nuptials are being held. Here are some other cute ideas:
Games
In addition to entertaining your guests between courses, or creating conversation amongst those who don’t know each other very well, you can use them to add an extra flair to your tabletop decor. A great idea is would be to leave personalize comment cards around the table, asking your guests for their advice to you and your SO, as newlyweds. Another fun addition would be cootie catchers- this option is sure to entertain kids, and will take the adults back to their childhood! Check out some awesome designs we’ve found:
There are a number of ways to spice up the papered goods that are sure to make their way into your wedding ceremony and reception. Our advice? Embrace it. This is just another opportunity to display your creativity and have a little fun when planning your big day!- Published in Uncategorized
Intimate Wedding Venues in the GTA
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Having trouble finding the perfect venue for your intimate wedding? Did our Unique Venues in the GTA post not help you find the ideal spot for your nuptials? Fear not, we’ve come up with a new list…
Intimate wedding venues in the GTA
These spots are ideal for a cozy ceremony and a reception just for you and your closest loved ones. Keep on reading if you’d like to find out more about some of the most popular intimate venues in the GTA!
Old Mill Inn & Spa
With a variety of rooms to choose from, the Old Mill offers class and Victorian style like no other. They also have an on-site 16th century candlelit wedding chapel with stained glass windows that would make for some amazing photographs. With amazing in-house catering and luxurious outdoor gardens, Old Mill is an ample choice for any small event.
Camera Bar
Located next to the Stephen Bulger Gallery, the Camera bar is decorate with beautiful art pieces. However, the majority of the space had been left raw, which allows for you to run free with your creativity and create your ideal room. Capacity is 30 for a seated dinner and 110 for a cocktail reception.
Miller Lash House
Featuring high arched ceilings, fireplaces, antique furnishings, and wooden trim, the Miller Lash house is both versatile and beautiful. The University of Toronto owned spaces allows for 50 seated guests, and a cocktail reception of 100.
Le Select
An authentic Parisian bistro in the heart of downtown Toronto, Le Select features a beautiful rear garden equipped with heaters for the cooler months, and a wine cellar with 1,200 different labels. This bistro would be a great option for a slightly more casual affair.
Ancaster Mill
The Ancaster Mill is a little oasis in the scenic suburb of Hamilton. With a waterfall complementing the exquisite exterior, this is the ideal location for a small outdoor wedding. There are also a number of rooms inside of the inn to choose from, if you’re interested in an indoor ceremony. You can choose from rooms with a more modern feel, or go for something a little more rustic. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
This location might be the most unique amongst our suggestions. You have the opportunity to exchange your vows amidst free-flying butterflies, serene waterfalls, and lush tropical foliage. The conservatories facilities may accommodate up to 200 reception guests. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
The Arts and Letters Club
Established in 1908, this club features a Tudor style hall, baronial fireplace, cathedral ceilings, and gothic stained glass windows. In-house catering features seasonal flavors, and local tastes. The largest room in the club had the potential to accommodate 112 reception guests. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
Sassafraz
Offering exceptional French-inspired Canadian cuisine, Sassafraz is set in an array of Victorian row-houses in the historic city of Yorkville. Despite having been around for decades, the interior of this intimate wedding venue in the GTA has a refreshingly modern twist. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
We hope that this collection of intimate wedding venues in the GTA helps narrow down your search, and gets you closer to finding the perfect venue for your wedding! Are there any venues you think should be on our list? Contact us today so we can get started on finding the perfect intimate venue for your wedding!
xoxo,
intimate wedding venues in the GTA
- Published in 2016, GTA, Rustic, Trends, Uncategorized, Venues, Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Ashley & Ben at Skyloft Ski Resort
Skyloft Ski Resort – Throwback to Our First Wedding!
Skyloft Ski Resort was the setting of a few huge milestones for Michelle and I. I bet you didn’t know that we love to reminisce, and in doing so today we uncovered a gem – a testimonial video that we’d never posted! What a huge oversight on our part! Ashley and Ben took the time to record this, and so onto the blog this video goes!
It makes us so happy to look back at our past weddings and reminisce about the good times and the amazing couples who took a chance on us in our early years. As an engaged couple, there are so many critical decisions to be made about every vendor, especially your planning team. We were so humbled by the enormous trust that Ashley and Ben placed in our hands: styling, decorating and coordinating their wedding day. We were so happy when we saw their testimonial video and realized that they loved their wedding day – music to a wedding planner’s ears!
Here’s Ashley & Ben’s video testimonial on their wedding day at Skyloft Ski Resort in Uxbridge! They loved us way back then, and we’re sure that you’ll love our team even more now :). Check out their adorable video below, and let us know what you think in the comments!
Aren’t these two the cutest? We loved every second of working with Ashley and Ben to craft their romantic rustic wedding, and had the opportunity to flex our creative muscles.
The Whimlets are creative, fun and experienced wedding and event planners in Toronto and the surrounding GTA. We’d love to chat with you about your wedding and see how we can assist with your planning! Contact us today for a no-obligation initial meeting at our office.
- Published in Uncategorized
Late Night Wedding Food Ideas That Rock!
by Alisha Chadee
The Whimlets love late night wedding food. There, now you know our darkest secret. We’re always eating – and we want you (and your guests) to eat all the time too! Now that we’ve cleared that up, how about we discuss our obsession with food a little further. Most of our wedding clients are foodies like ourselves. In fact, we insist that all of our clients share a passion for treating their guests to fabulous food. Your guests won’t remember your colour scheme or your floral arrangements, but they will definitely remember if the food wasn’t fab. Most of the better wedding venues in Toronto will assist you in creating menus that will dazzle your crowd, and suit you palette.
There are so many great areas to interject deliciousness into your wedding. We’ll eventually cover them all, but today we’re focusing on:
Great Late Night Wedding Food!
Ahhh, late night wedding food. The cocktail hour is over. The dinner is over. The drinks are flowing. Everyone’s dancing up a storm. Everyone is having a blast – but starting to get a little hungry. Don’t let your guests head to MickeyDees after your fab fete – that would be a tragedy! Instead, check out some sumptuous snacks, like a french fry station! Treat your guests to a gourmet french fry station – or a poutine station! Create fun flavour combinations by offering DIY sauce and condiment stations. This will be a big hit with adults and children!
Forget Mickey Dees! Treat your guests to a gourmet french fry station – complete with dips and sauces! Totally vegetarian, too! Found on Intimate Weddings.
French fries aren’t your thing? How about a late night pizza station? Drunken revellers around the world clamour for pizza after a night of partying!
Meat lovers, cheese vegetarian, the options are endless! Found on crafty pie.com
Pizza and fries too simple? How about hard and soft shell tacos! We love the idea of guest participation and self-serve taco stations are a great way to suit everyone’s palette.
Hard and soft shell tacos with serve-yourself options like meats, beans, rice, sauces and more! Found on balancedhealthylife.com.
Mmm all of this great food inspiration is making us hungry! Still, let’s press on. Next up, let’s look at mini burgers! Mini burgers are a great idea because they’re small, so your little guests can enjoy them, too! Get vegetarian, chicken, beef or pulled pork! Set your station up with a variety of sauces and sides and your guests will sing your praises forever! Don’t forget the pickles!
Mmm mini burgers are always a fan favourite at weddings and corporate events! Found on nouba.com
Most of what we’ve covered above have been savoury snacks, but variety is the spice of life! Soft pretzels can be served savoury or sweet, and your guests will love having the choice!
A sweet and salty snack station featuring soft pretzels are guaranteed to be a hit with your guests! Found on Tablespoon.com
Now that we’ve made ourselves thoroughly hungry with all of this carby-goodness, we hope that you are inspired! Fill your guests up with yummy late night wedding food and send them home with warm, happy memories. They’ll praise you for years to come and your wedding will be the envy of all!
We have tons of ideas like these and we’d love to share them with you! Contact us today to get started!
Until next time,
xoxo
The Whimlets
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Hilton Hotel Markham – A Behind-The-Scenes Recap!
Hilton Hotel Markham – An Elegant DIY Dream
Gorgeous sign made by a close friend of the couple – made entirely out of photos of the bride and groom!
Michelle and I recently welcomed a new Whimlet (isn’t that a great term?!) to our ranks. Her name is Rachel de Silva, and she is assisting us with coordination on wedding days. Her first wedding with us was a lovely Hindu wedding and reception at the Hilton Hotel Markham, and she did a fantastic job! I asked her to write up the wedding from her perspective and you can read more below!
A fun (and fuzzy) instamax photo of our little team
“Just so I can get the record straight, I by no means got hitched nor do I plan to take a husband anytime soon. I will however state that the Whim team was gracious enough to grant me the opportunity to assist in Ilina and Anil’s big day. Recently, I have found a thriving passion to plan events, so what better time than now to get involved during wedding season. To say the least, this couple did a fantastic job in creating a fun and engaging guest experience. There were little jars of M&M’s featuring every guest’s name with a personalized message to each. A gorgeous decor set up for both ceremony and reception from Diya Decor, a guestbook tree with hanging paper cards dangled from the branches where the guests were able to tape a Polaroid of themselves to the cards. The effort in the details undeniably showed in every step of the wedding process.
Custom Gold Framed Schedule Board
6ft Customized Guestbook Tree
Closeup of signage and chalkboard with instamax photos for the custom guestbook tree
Closeup of signage and chalkboard with instamax photos for the custom guestbook tree
Seating chart
A key component to ensuring the day ran successfully was time management. Since this wedding featured a Hindu ceremony and reception in the same day, there was a time sensitive itinerary, list of name and phone numbers of every vendor required, and a detailed map of table numbers and list of names per table. These documents became very useful throughout the duration of the wedding. The one lesson I have learned through this entire experience is preparation, sticking to the time schedule (give or take a few minutes), making sure to eat at some point and remaining calm. I also became aware of the difference between an outstanding guest experience and a mediocre one. I truly want to say thank you to the Whim team for choosing me to join them on this amazing journey. Cheers to many more weddings, some of which I hope to take the lead on.
Stunning reception decor courtesy of Diya Decor!
The first dance of the night with the bride and groom!
Beautiful centrepieces and table design by Diya Decor.
Beautiful receiving table with vintage decor and candles, dedicated to the bride and groom’s family – this table featured wedding photos of both sets of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents!
Special thanks to the Hilton Hotel Markham, Diya Decor, G&H Photography, and all of the vendors and extra hands and Celia Mackenzie, Huma Sheikh and Mahdis Lowe for all their help and efforts. Congratulations to a wonderful bride and groom, Ilina and Anil on this wonderful milestone!”
We hoped that you enjoyed Rachel’s write up on this lovely wedding. We’ll feature a full post on it in the future when the pro photos come in with a full vendor listing. We’re so excited that we have Rachel to assist us on our future weddings! We’ll feature a bio on her very soon! To find out more about how we can assist you, please contact us today!
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