Wed by Hand supports Fertile Future!

Amazing vendors, informative and modern workshops and more are only a taste of what you’ll find at this year’s Wed by Hand. Above all, Wed by Hand is especially awesome because it supports unique, interesting and innovative local causes too! This year we’re happy to announce that our charity is Fertile Future.

Who are they and why do they exist?
Fertile Future is a Canadian national non-profit organization that provides fertility preservation information and support services to cancer patients and oncology professionals. Each year, an estimated 10,000 young Canadians face a cancer diagnosis. Approximately 8,000 of them will win this battle. Without knowing the importance of fertility preservation prior to their treatment, many are left infertile with few options. Fertile Future aspires to change this reality for cancer patients. Our mission is to inform, educate and support cancer patients who are facing fertility-risking medical treatment and oncology professionals who are providing this care.

What do they strive to do?
- Increase public awareness about fertility and cancer related issues
- Educate cancer patients about their fertility preservation options prior to cancer treatments
- Enable the medical community about when and how to inform patients about their fertility
- Raise awareness of key issues across Canada

If you’re a bride-to-be looking to give back and support this wonderful charity, remember to stop by the Raffle Table at the show. Our wonderful vendors will be donating gifts that will be raffled off at the end of the show. You could win a gift AND support a cause, what a great way to support a local charity! Winners will be contacted via their contact information and all the money raised will go directly to Fertile Future. Tickets will be $3 for 1 and $5 for 2. Stop by and meet Caitlin from Fertile Future at Wed by Hand on February 11th at the Glebe Community Centre from 11AM to 5PM.

If you would like to contact Fertile Future or if you’re interested in reading about their programs, please visit their website for more information.

How To Tuesday: Attend Wed by Hand

We are gearing up for Wed by Hand this weekend and can't wait to share the show this year with you.
An wedding show is the best place to find inspiration, ideas, learn tips and tricks and meet connections to create your own magical day.

What to bring: 
A camera
Mini sketchbook
Pens
Card holder
A list of questions to ask vendors

It can be overwhelming to plan your wedding and at Wed by Hand we want to show you that it really is not so hard and that it can be so much fun with the help of a few others with knowhow.

So bring along your best friend, family member or spouse to be and make the most of Wed by Hand by taking part in some of the great workshops we have to offer and getting some great ideas.

Can't wait to see you there!

Meet Our Vendors: The Tasting Room!

This year at Wed By Hand, we're debuting something new and completely fabulous: a tasting room! The Wed By Hand will feature local, artisan and DIY options for your wedding day--all from really fantastic companies! What's even better? You get to sample food from all of these companies right at the show--for free! With your admission to the show, you'll not only get to meet these vendors but also taste their delectable goodies. It'll be a truly scrumptious destination at the show on Saturday! A preview of the companies that will be there:

Auntie Loo Weddings

With a Bachelor of Science in Animal Behaviour, Miss Kate of Auntie Loo Weddings never thought she would end up making and decorating wedding cakes. After a few unlucky turns and some fortuitous sugar flower classes and after having taught herself the basics, Miss Kate is now running the wedding cake department of Ottawa’s unique egg, dairy, and gluten free bakery. Drawing on colour swatches, fabrics, themes, and images, Miss Kate works closely with couples to create unique and custom cakes. Emphasis on unique, because as a rule, Kate says “I never duplicate my own or other peoples’ work. I think every cake should be as individual as the couple.” This means that even traditional or simple wedding cakes should be different and certainly unique to the couple; Miss Kate encourages couples to go for designs that are special to them.

DAVIDsTEA
In the past few years, signature cocktails and dessert bars have become all the rage in the wedding world. If you're looking for a different way to add a unique splash to your wedding, adding a tea bar might be the way for you to go. DAVIDsTEA will be on hand at Wed By Hand to teach you how to create a DIY Tea Bar and let you sample some of their delicious teas. Yum!

Honey Pie Hives & Herbals

Hailing from Prince Edward County, Honey Pie Hives & Herbals, combines beeswax and propolis with organic herbs to make natural and healthful products. The small farm-based business offers small jars of honey and bars of soap, delightfully adorned with hand-drawn labels, inspired by vintage labels and catalogues, as wedding favors. They also offer gift baskets for members of the wedding party. With years of experience making favors, “many people choose our little jars of honey since it has so much romantic appeal – a natural sweet made from the nectar of flowers, it is the essence of love itself.” 

The Candy Store
Hoping to put together a gorgeous candy bar for your wedding but not sure how to do it? The folks from Ottawa's The Candy Store will be on hand with a lovely display and will teach you how to DIY your own candy bar. You'll learn how to create a feast for your guests' eyes and tummies on your wedding day!

Carolina's Box of Goodness

Does the idea of Brazilian family recipes paired with traditional French baking techniques get your mouth watering? Carolina’s Box of Goodness cooks up handmade artisan brownies and custom celebration and wedding cakes for special events. What sets them apart? They “use only the finest ingredients, such as premium Belgian chocolate, Grade AA Canadian butter, Ontario eggs and Madagascar bourbon vanilla, and everything is baked entirely from scratch. The cakes and brownies are also always handmade and baked to order – this means that each order suits the individual client, while ensuring freshness. Unique recipes and the use of local ingredients and packaging in order to support the community remain close to heart at Carolina’s.

Sweet! Cupcakes

Feeling like you need a playful dose of luxury in your wedding? Look no further – that’s exactly what Sweet! aims to bring to your wedding. The Rockland based online business specializes in cupcakes, mini cupcakes, and cake pops. In order to ensure complete customer satisfaction, Sweet! provides consultations while building a relationship with customers, handcrafting every single aspect of their products. Everything can be customized, flavors, colors, and garnishes, so that your perfect wedding vision comes together. The flavors are bold and rich, importing their own products from places like Belgium and Hawaii, while also using local produce and basing flavors on what is seasonally available.

Morsel Desserts

With a lifetime of experience baking with her mother, grandmother, and other women of her extended family, it was a no brainer for Robin Coull to make a career of it. And so, Morsel was born. The homemade dessert line features gorgeous cupcakes, with recipes that change with the seasons, perfect for your memorable occasions. Continuously grateful to be part of the happiest day in a couple’s life, Robin Coull can’t help but smile throughout the entire process. Inspired by fellow bakers and recipes collected from many countries travelled, her best advice is not to “over complicate things, the main thing you want your wedding to be is fun for you and your guests.”

Havana Cafe & Catering
Havana Cafe, a wonderful Cuban cafe in Old Ottawa South, offers catering for those who want a little spicy flair. The fusion of traditional flavours with the artistic presentation of the plates here at Havana have a create authentic dining experience. Oslaide Guerra, the owner and chef, has over 15 years in the food and hospitality industry will delight your taste buds with his passion for cooking. If you're looking for something fresh, unique and deliciously refined, you will definitely want to stop by their table in the tasting room on Saturday!

Welcome to Food Week!

We've saved the best for last for you, ladies and gents. Welcome to Food Week on the Wed By Hand blog! I don't know about the rest of you, but when it comes to planning a big event or even a small get together, picking out food options is always my favorite part of planning.

This year at Wed By Hand we're rolling out a new feature: a Tasting Room! We're so excited to introduce you to 10 small local companies who are here to help you create a really awesome experience for your wedding guests through food. From vegan cakes to a tea bar to cuban food--you'll be able to sample a ton of delectable food from people who truly care about what you put in your tummy! It's going to be such a fun part of the show this year--and it's free with your show admission!

This week we'll be sharing all sorts of ways you can customize your food with local options. It's going to be a tasty week!

Tips & Tricks: Decor

Decorations at a wedding can really help to create your desired ambiance and today we'll be sharing tips and tricks for how to decorate different elements of your wedding day!

Transportation

Let's start with getting to your wedding venue. There are many options, dependent on your budget, your attire, and your style: bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, horse & carriage, vintage auto, town car, limo, bus, trolley, your own car or a friend's car. Some things to consider when selecting your transportation option include:

• The number of people you need to transport, and does everyone need to travel altogether or in smaller groups?
• Are there any restrictions for vehicle types at any of your venues?
• Does the route to the venue limit the type of vehicle you select?

If you'll be hiring a company, make sure to get everything in writing and ensure that you have an after-hours/emergency contact number. Be aware of the good routes to take and do some research to see if any local events may affect traffic. Also, if you're planning to decorate the car, double-check with the owner of the vehicle (a company, your friend, etc) about any restrictions.

Ceremony

The amount of decorating that you do for your ceremony depends on what the space looks like and what you would like it to look like. Here are some considerations for aisle runners, as well as some ideas here and here.

Reception

Depending on the venue, you may consider having fabric backdrops or curtains that incorporate your wedding colours or making adjustments to the lighting. It's helpful to visit the venue at a similar time of day to which your reception will be held to get a good idea of what the space will look like. Here are some general tips on sprucing up your venue.

A guestbook is a fabulous way for guests to share their thoughts and tips with you on your celebratory day. Here are some options beyond a blank book:

• DIY: Print out photos and stick them into a stylish notebook using photo corners. Guests can sign the blank spaces around the photos or on designated pages.
• Have a personalized book printed; some online companies that do this include shutterfly and mixbook.
• Skip the book and ask guests to sign a mat that frames your favourite photo.
• Make a wish tree by setting up a bare tree and having guests write messages on slips of colourful paper that are then tied onto the branches.
• Have guests write toes on stickie notes; these can be added to a wedding scrapbook later.
• Set out wine bottles and a contrasting colour of permanent market, then have guests sign the bottles; if they're empty, they can be used to bottle your favourite wine later. What a great way to relive your wedding years from now!
• Set out puzzle pieces for guests to sign, then put the pieces together after the wedding!

If your guests will be seated at tables, covering the chairs can make a big difference; click here and here for chair cover ideas. Make sure you have arrangements for table cloths, either with your venue, another service provider, or your family or friends. For ideas on table settings, see here, here, and here. Tables also typically have table numbers (to coincide with a seating chart) and can have place cards as well (to let guests know where to sit).

Here are some ideas for centrepieces, which can be contemporary, fairly simple, and not necessarily floral. If you do go the floral route, consider using recyclable vases such as the blumebox, mason jars, or old wine glasses. Depending on the time of year, fruits, vegetables, potted spices or other plants can make for edible or long-term use centrepieces. Decorations can also be made out of paper and kept as memorabilia. Sawyer and Sprout, one of this year's vendors, has some cute decorative options:

I was looking for flower alternatives that would last longer and be reusable. Fabric and paper items are timeless, and I really enjoy using these mediums in an unexpected way. I love to create items that can be kept and used year over year, becoming heirlooms. They become a kind of memory sharing.

Once you've decided that you'd like to give favours to your guests, consider using reusable or practical products, such as soap from one of this year's vendors, Dot & Lil.

The last word comes from Anne of Dot & Lil:

There are lots of ways to have a wedding! Just have fun with it, and try and find ways to have your wedding really express who you are and what you're about. It's such a perfect and unique opportunity to express who you are as a couple. Handmade and indie items really lend themselves to custom, one of a kind creation in a way that makes that easy.

Wed By Hand's Perfect Proposal Contest!

Everyone’s proposal story is a moment to remember!

Share your story with us for a chance to win tickets and goodies from Wed by Hand to get planning for the big day.

Do you have a really awesome or truly unforgettable proposal story? Was it sweet and traditional, fun and doing something you both love, or spontaneous and adventurous? We want you to share the story of your engagement with us!

The winning couple will receive, two of our fantastic swag bags reserved for you at the entrance and two free tickets to the show and you'll be featured on our blog!


The first two runners up will also receive two free tickets to the show!

To enter, send a picture of you and your sweetie to heatherleighmundle@gmail.com and fill out this form to share your special story with us! Entries must be submitted by 12 (noon) on February 8th, 2012 and the winner will be e-mailed and announced on February 9th, 2012.


Good luck!

Meet Our Vendors - Decor!

For some brides, the downside of her wedding day is that it really is just one day. Countless months, minutes and migraines are spent trying to make this one day as beautiful and as special as possible. While photographs do an excellent job preserving memories and feelings, imagine having your wedding flowers and décor that last a lifetime. 

Paige Beckett of Sawyer and Sprout offers flower-alternative accessories and handmade décor; fabric and paper items last longer than flowers and are reusable. All of her items are customizable (to match wedding colours, themes, etc.) and prices range from $15 for boutonnieres to $100 for a large bridal bouquet, while discounts may be offered for multiple item purchases. Without the time to personally DIY, Sawyer and Sprout also offers customized paper and fabric bunting, and other décor items that will last year after year, while providing that eco-friendly, handmade feel to your special day.

Meet Our Vendors: Flowers!

 
Full Bloom

It feels especially appropriate to have a flower company that takes every opportunity to be eco-friendly. Full Bloom, a home studio based floral company, offers traditional flowers with a modern twist. Full Bloom’s bottom line is to create unique floral arrangements that match each couple’s individual style, all while keeping a focus on personal service and the environment. The company not only offers suggestions on how to reduce, reuse and recycle your wedding and event flowers, at the end of the wedding season they also plant a tree or seedling in honor of the couples “which in a small way is saying thanks to the environment for providing the flowers!”

 

Blumenstudio

With 17 years of experience as a floral designer, Kat Kosk of Blumenstudio, has found weddings to be her daily calling. In addition to handtied planter arrangements, Blumenstudio “represents quality and pure clean designs” with “scents, textures and flavours abound and envelop the senses.” Growing up in Germany and moving to North America just a short nine years ago, Kat Kosk has finally brought a long-time vision into reality specializing in European-inspired floral arrangements.

Sparrow Floral

Sparrow Floral specializes in vintage-inspired floral arrangements. At Sparrow Floral they create a whole feeling with their decorating. They don't shy away from being unique, creative and inspiring in all of the work that they do. If you are looking for a unique and vintage spread for your wedding, they are the ones to call.

Welcome to Flower Week!

I am so excited for this week, ladies & gents! We've reached flower week, and florals are one of my absolute favorite things about weddings. Over the past year or so, Ottawa has literally blossomed with new indie floral businesses and we are so excited to showcase their truly distinct and unique styles with you at Wed By Hand.

As you'll see, we have three unique floral companies joining us this year for Wed By Hand--each with their own signature style. And I think you'll see that the ladies who own these companies will show you how to put together flowers that really reflect your style and your wedding theme--whether you're going for something ultra modern or something super rustic and vintage-inspired.

Throughout the week we'll not only introduce you to the vendors that we'll have on hand for Wed By Hand, but also give you tips for how you can use flowers in unique and interesting ways to accent your special day!

Tips & Tricks Thursday: Papers and Envelopes and Websites, Oh My!

You've booked your venue for a certain date and time. Now it's time to let your friends and family know!

Save the Dates?

There are a few scenarios where save-the-date cards are particularly helpful and allow guests to make plans accordingly:

• Guests are travelling from out-of-town and moreso, out-of-country.
• Guests who may need extra time to make arrangements.
• Destination weddings.

There are various options for save-the-dates, including cards, postcards, or magnets. Key information that should be on every save-the-date is: the date, the location, and an indication that a formal invitation is to come.

The Look

The invitation is the first taste that guests will have of your wedding. Invites are a great way to start incorporating the theme, colour scheme or other important components of your wedding. With wedding invitations, you can be as hands on or as hands off as you desire (or have time for!).

• There are many companies that help you create personalized cards or postcards, such as Wedding Paper Divas (based in California) or Six. modern paper goods (based in Almonte).
• Check out theknot.com's 25 Unexpected Invite Ideas You'll Love for some alternative invite inspiration.
• Use a designer to create an image or design that reflects you and yours.
• Select paper and envelopes that reflect you and yours; recycled paper, handmade paper, plantable seeded paper...there are many options!
• Visit local stationery stores such as the Papery (850 Bank St) or the Paper Papier (18 Clarence St) to see stationery options if you're interested in making your invites from scratch.

Online Presence

One key thing to keep in mind as you prepare your invitations is to not include too much information. Nowadays, it's quite popular and convenient to have a wedding website that will give your guests all of the information that you want to share with them but couldn't include on your paper invites. There are many free wedding websites such as theknot.com, many premium wedding websites, or free blogs that can double as wedding websites. See here for ideas on content for your wedding website.

The Content

No matter what type of celebration you're planning, there are a few key details that should be included in any invitation:

• The date and location of venue(s) (if you have a lot of out-of-town guests, it may be helpful to include a map of the area)'
• Basic overview of times: for the ceremony, cocktails, receptions, tea ceremony, apres-wedding lunch, etc. (if people are expected to be somewhere at a certain time, include it).
• Any RSVP information that you need for coordinating the logistics of the day such as the number of guests and meal choices, as well as a RSVP deadline.

Some things to consider when you're thinking about the wording and content of your invites:

• Here is some info on wedding invitation wording and an invitation wording wizard tool to select something to reflect your family situation.
• Proofread your invite for grammar, spelling, and typos.
• There are different ways to word your response card. See here, here, and here for ideas.

For response cards, make it easy for your guests by pre-addressing and stamping the return envelope, including your contact information should they have any questions, and making it clear what information you need. Small details can really help you out, as Danielle of Six Modern Paper Goods points out:

Write numbers on the back of your RSVPs and keep track of who you sent each number to - It's amazing how many people forget to write their names on the reply card!

From Here to There

Typically, the outer envelope is addressed formally; see here for some examples. You can use a personalized seal or sticker on the back of the envelope for a nice finishing touch. A great tip from Vincent of Everlovin' Press:

For a special touch, get your own personalized stamps made for mailing those invites out.

You can also create personalized postcards with Canada Post; their pricing includes printed postcards and delivery anywhere in the world.

If you'll be mailing your invitations, don't find yourself underpaying on the postage, just thinking that a standard stamp will cover the cost; your envelopes could be returned to you up to several weeks later with an 'insufficient postage' stamp on it...probably not the look you were going for!

To avoid this, take one stuffed envelope to Canada Post and have it weighed so that you know how much it'll cost; currently with Canada Post, the standard postage is for letters up to 30g. There are also size requirements for standard letters. Rectangular envelopes are cheaper to send than square ones. Thick envelopes may cost more to send. If you'd likely to specially select the stamp design without having personalized stamps made, Canada Post has a wide variety of stamps available for sale.

Keeping Track

Having a spreadsheet to keep track of information such as who you've invited, what number their invitation has, who has responded, and what their meal choices are will help you determine things like who you need to follow up with. A spreadsheet is also more easily searchable than a text-based document.

Workshop Wednesday: DIY Wedding Invitations

Invitations week has arrived, and the talented Danielle Wojtyniak is going to be hosting a workshop that will take the stress right out of this top-of-the-list wedding task.  As invitations are one of the first things that go out and are intended to reflect the style and vision of the wedding to come, many Brides and Grooms fret about them; what to include, what size, style and paper to use.  Well, the answer is here from Six Modern Paper Goods based in Almonte, and Danielle who will be showing us how to DIY our perfect invites.

Danielle will be providing us with an overview of printing methods, a list of materials required, such as a knife and a ruler.  She’ll be giving us a list of local and online resources for supplies, including paper, printing and envelopes.  And she’ll also be offering us ideas of the different DIY strategies you can take, such as design and print your own, buy a design and print at home and buy a design and have it printed.

There will be example invitations, printed on a home inkjet printer, for us to browse and compare to professionally printed invites, and Danielle will demonstrate the ever so daunting cutting and folding techniques that will turn you into an expert.  So dig out your favourite exacto knife, buy some extra colour cartridges for your printer, and get ready to DIY some fabulous invites that you can give yourself a pat on the back for.

How to Tuesday: Invitations and Paper

There are so many things to be sent out, mailed and made for the big day. Whether you are a crafty bride with everything DIY, want to help out with the design and get your creative minds flowing or just want to choose a great theme, there are different ways to get involved with paper made goods.

1. The Craft Maven

Supplies

Card stock

Envelopes

A tutorial of your desire or your own creative idea

(ribbon, paint, stamp press letters and so forth.)

OR... a crafty computer generated design on InDesign or like software.

A team of hands to get your invitations made and on the road

Your a craft maven, if we gave you directions on what to do you would taken them and run with the wind... making invitations is what you were born to do. But if you want somewhere to start, here are a few ideas....

http://www.inspiredbrides.com/

http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/diy-wedding-invitation-kits.htm

http://www.etsy.com/shop/idoityourself

2. Creative chaos without the mess

Supplies

A internet ready device for online shopping (Stop, do not pass go, do not go to Ebay.)

Stamps

A colour printer (or ship off your personal design right to the website!)

Paint for crafting

Ribbon

Envelopes

Stamps

If you are interested in still creating everything on your wedding invitations and thank you cards don't be afraid to use a site such as www.weddingpaperdivas.com  where you can pick and choose your back grounds or card stock but still have all the creative liberties at your disposal you can imagine. You can even order in the stock in your special colour and shape and print your own artwork or personalize it with stamps and embellishment. This option allows you to get crafty and creative but leave the fussy work up to someone else. 

3. A step towards DIY

Supplies

Your info and dates

A list of people to invite

A little creative spark and theme

Some time to change your theme around online

If you want to pick and choose what you would like but don't want to go through the entire creation process, paper goods makers are ready and willing to hold a consult with you and take your idea and make it come alive. Check out our vendors post to see some of the great creations they can come up with. If you head back to http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/thermography-wedding-invitations.htm

there are some wonderful ideas for getting started and creating your own idea online by picking and choosing what you want and seeing it come to life on the screen before evening making it and having it printed. 

Welcome to Invitation Week!

When it comes to setting the tone of your wedding, couples are often surprised to find that something as simple as paper plays a pivotal role. Invitations are the first way engaged couples communicate what the wedding theme and feel will be like--months before guests ever step foot in your wedding venue!

In recent years the market has literally blossomed with countless options for couples looking for invitations. It used to be that you would have to pop by a paper shop and order your invitations from giant sample books. While this option is still available today, the handmade world has also brought some really cool options to the market. From incredibly detailed, extremely intricate and labour intensive letterpressed invites to lovely & customizable print-your-own options, small indie businesses are offering options you would have never even dreamed of a few years ago.

We are excited to introduce you to some small businesses that can help you craft the perfect invitations for your special day--no matter what you are looking for! This week we will give you a preview of what you can see invitation-wise at Wed By Hand as well as tips, tricks and DIY projects for how you can tackle your invitations!

Meet Our Vendors: Dresses!

Victoire

With two locations in Ottawa (Dalhousie St. and Wellington St.), the ladies of Victoire will be bringing vintage cocktail and wedding dresses to Wed By Hand! These dresses are perfect for the kind of gal that is looking for something a little different. Whether you’re a bride, bridesmaid, guest or important family member, Victoire offers garments that blend “classic good style with a dash of rebellion”. 

At Wed by Hand the girls offer a selection of their unique vintage dresses on site with their own unique flair. These dresses rarely make a trip out of the store but year yet again they are taking a trip to the Glebe Community Center. Victoire Boutique wants to add some new hip flare to the wedding scene. 

 

Photo by Melanie Rebane

With Love Bridal Boutique
Located in Stittsville, With Love is a truly unique wedding dress shop & offers an equally unique shopping experience. Whether you're a bride on a budget, looking to go green, or planning your wedding in a matter of weeks, With Love has a dream gown for you. With Love offers a large selection of once loved and never worn wedding gowns in current styles from some of the best designers in the industry. Purchasing a once loved gown at With Love Bridal Boutique provides you with the same special attention you deserve, and a designer gown at a fraction of the cost.

For brides on a budget, With Love offers gowns from Maggie Sottero, Pronovias and Essence of Australia for up to 70% off. For the eco-friendly bride, buying on consignment is a great way to go green. Given that these gowns are clean and in perfect condition, nobody will be able to tell the difference! Reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing on consignment!

Welcome to Dress Week!

The quest for the perfect wedding dress is one of the biggest tasks you'll tackle as a bride preparing for your wedding. Finding the perfect dress can be both a fun and exciting experience, but can also sometimes be quite the quest. At Wed By Hand, we realize that finding the right attire no matter your sex or style is important, and we want to arm the ladies with a variety of dress options--and especially ones that you might not immediately think of.

We're extremely excited to have two vendors this year that both offer something a bit unique when it comes to wedding -and- bridesmaid dresses. As you'll see later today, we'll have a wide range of alternative dress options at Wed By Hand. From a ridiculously good collection of vintage cocktail dresses to consignment gowns--perfect for the eco-conscious bride--we're excited to show you all of the alternative options available to you as a bride or a bridesmaid shopping for attire! This week we'll also be arming you with everything you need to know to shop for, select and personalize your perfect dress--no mater what it looks like! Let's go!

After I Do: Advice from a Recent Bride - Planning!

After I Do is a weekly column written by Andrée who just tied the knot in 2011. She's here to answer your questions about getting hitched and give you advice from the viewpoint of a bride who has recently gone through the planning process!

Q: "I just got engaged and have no idea where to start on the planning. What should I do first?"

A: Congratulations on your recent engagement!

Looking back on my own engagement, I can remember being excited but also quite overwhelmed at the thought of planning such a big event. I wanted things to be perfect; I wanted everything to reflect who my fiancé and I are as people and what we love together. Not a modest task if you ask me. As a recent bride, I know how hard this can all be and I want you to all know that I’m here to help with all your wedding related questions. These are the first few things I started with, and also how I dealt with some of my wedding planning stress.

1. Take a week to let it sink in
People will want to congratulate you, and of course will want to ask you every single detail of your upcoming wedding. I remember thinking, “I’ve been engaged for 5 seconds, I have no idea when and where we’ll get married!” If you want, wait a week before telling EVERYONE. Keep it for your parents and close friends, and make them promise not to share. This will give you and your new fiancé time to enjoy it together.

2. Discuss your hopes and dreams
Most girls know when the big day will happen. If not, we at least have an idea of when the relationship is headed in that direction. Girls plan their wedding day months or even years in advance. When my hubby popped the big question, it became real. Now, we had to sit down and talk about what we both wanted. Remember to listen to his ideas and to consider them even though they might not fit into your plan. If you’ll want help throughout the planning, you’ll want to start here. In my case, I planned most of the wedding, but he was involved in putting out planning fires and getting me back to earth when my ideas went overboard. Fiancés are good for that. Remember to let them help you when they offer it.

3. Budget
This is always a hot topic during the planning of a wedding. Decide on a number you are ready to spend, and stick to it. If you think you will get financial help from your parents, this is a good time to sit down with them and discuss it. It can be very touchy so be ready, but it will give you a better idea of how much you have to play with.

When we were planning and budgeting, my fiancé didn’t like to include what was already purchased (dress, rings, and deposits) into the total #. If it was already out of our bank account, he didn’t care to discuss it. If this works to keep their stress down, do it!

4. Decide on a theme
A theme isn’t always needed, but it can help you plan. Start by picking colours you like. In our case, I wanted everything to be brown, green and white and everything was to be handmade. Eventually we decided our theme would be ‘Eco-Chic’. Be creative and don’t overdo it. Decorations can be very costly and most of the time, simple and classic wins over extravagant.

5. Make lists
When we were planning our wedding, I used a master spreadsheet off Google docs. I kept all our important wedding information on this list, and it kept me sane during the whole process. Not everyone works well this way, but it really helped me stay and feel more organized. When we were ready to make all our DIY projects (20 projects, no lie), I had created a list of the tasks, materials needed, person who would we helping, deadline, where it would be used at the wedding. This was SO helpful and it kept me sane when I thought I was behind on everything. I would simply take a look at my to-dos and realize that I was doing well. Also, it helped me when I decided to cut out some projects. Check out the Master Spreadsheet!

6. Learn to delegate
It’s really, really hard but so worth it. If you’re like me (aka Martha Stewart Bride), you’ll want to create, make, control and remake everything until it’s perfect. Manage what you CAN control and let others help you with things you might not feel as comfortable doing. DO control the lists but delegate the tasks. Give jobs to the people who are willing to help you. If you have volunteers, you’re ahead of the game!

7. Timeline & Logistics
Now that you’re engaged, a lot of decisions will have to be made. There are TONS of resources out there that can help you with your planning timeline. Deadlines are important when planning, but take it easy – people have planned successful weddings in under 3 months (my mother just did it, and her wedding was stunning!) Here are some websites and tools that helped me.
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/273406/my-wedding-tools (American) http://www.weddingbells.ca/tools/about/ (Canadian)
More things to consider:
a. Pick your wedding date, this may be subject to the availability of your venue, but try to narrow down a time during the year at least.
b. Go visit a couple venues, even ones you don’t think you’ll like (it’s better to strike them off your list than to find out about them a month after you paid your 1st deposit). Book your venue at least a year before your wedding date.
c. Decide if you’ll have suppliers (photographer, videographer, caterer, equipment rental) If you plan on getting married during the summer or during a holiday, you’ll have to book these ahead of time.

An engagement marks the beginning of such an amazing ride which will at times test you, excite you, amaze you and tire you. Remember to take a step back and keep in mind what you and your fiancé truly want when making every single decision. It can seem difficult or demanding now, but try to do it. Often it’s difficult to stick with your original vision when others try to sway you in every other direction (of course, they do it out of love, but c’mon, stand up for yourself!). It’s very easy to forget what you envisioned your wedding to look like in the beginning. In the end, your wedding day is yours and no one else’s. Don’t forget to stay strong as a couple and to be yourself.
Happy planning!
Andrée C.

Tips & Tricks Thursday: On Planning

You've decided to officially commit to your partner...congratulations! Now what? Start off by having frank discussions together about how you would like to recognize and celebrate this commitment. Would you like to have a big wedding, a small wedding, something nearby or a destination wedding? Do either of your families have expectations for you and how will you handle those together? What is your budget and are there elements that you absolutely want to include in whatever you decide to do? As you start considering these questions, here are some guides to help you along:

• Torontobrides.com on planning a wedding on a strict budget
• Frugal Dad on planning a wedding on a budget
• Theknot.com on wedding budget options (who pays!?)
• Theperfectweddingguide.com has a free wedding checklist (pdf)
• About.com has a wedding budget worksheet
• Check out the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, a certification program for wedding coordinators.

Keep in mind that there are many professionals available to help plan or execute your event. You can choose from a full wedding planner, a partial wedding planner where you can get help with certain aspects of wedding planning, or a wedding coordinator for day-of assistance. Here's a tip from Bridget of {First Kiss Films}:

Hire a wedding coordinator, or at least a wedding day-of planner. You don't want to worry about any of the details on your wedding day. Having a professional on-site making sure the day is running as planned allows for you [to] enjoy each moment and be relaxed (it'll show on your face and you'll look even more radiant on film.

Jane of I Do...Green! Creative Eco-Wedding Planning echoes Bridget on this point:

Enjoy every single minute of your day! If you're a DIY bride and want to plan your wedding yourself, you should still have a coordinator onsite for the day-of. When the time comes you will want someone to take control & ensure all of the little things get done; and don't rely on family or friends to do it.

You can draw on inspiration from magazines, your friends and family, and the internet but in the end, Anne of Dot & Lil says it well:

"There are lots of ways to have a wedding! Just have fun with it, and try and find ways to have your wedding really express who you are and what you're about. It's such a perfect and unique opportunity to express who you are as a couple. Handmade and indie items really lend themselves to custom, one of a kind creation in a way that makes that easy."

This blog can also be a great resource for DIY ideas to add that special touch to your day. Whether you have a wedding in Ottawa or Hawaii, or a ceremony at city hall, remember to enjoy the time you spend together. No matter what you decide to do, it's easy to get lost in the imagination, planning and organizing. I wanted to share a fabulous final tip from Amy of Splendid Events:

         "Remember to keep time for yourselves. Planning a wedding is a huge project with countless details to juggle, and there's no denying that it gets stressful. Throughout your planning months, make sure you set aside time where wedding talk is strictly off-limits. Go out to a movie, go see a play, stay in and make a great dinner, whatever you like. Turn off your cell phones and laptops and just enjoy one another's company."

Happy planning!

Welcome to 2012 + Planning Week!

Happy New Year, ladies & gents! We hope that you had a wonderful holiday season filled with food, fun and family! The winter holiday season is a popular time for couples to get engaged, so if you find yourself with a new ring on your finger: Congrats!

January is a common time for resolutions, as we all know, and I know that I personally find myself making plans and getting organized around this time every year. So we thought in the spirit of the season, we would kick 2012 off with Planning Week! We'll be walking you through tips and tricks for tackling the planning of your special day. We'll be sharing ideas of how you can make planning your wedding a cinch and also talking about how to stay on budget and whether you should hire a wedding planner or not. This is a perfect week anyone just starting to tackle their wedding planning for the first time, or for anyone who is in the 'thick of it' and needs some help and guidance!

Happy 2012!

Meet Our Vendors: Accessories!

When it comes to your special day, adding special accessories to you, your groom's or your bridesmaids' outfits is one of the ways you can truly personalize your wedding. Handmade accessories provide brides with the opportunity to customize their day in a way that reflects their personality while supporting small, local businesses. At Wed By Hand in 2012, we'll have a variety of vendors on hand to help you accessorize yourself, and we're excited to introduce you to each of them!

Magneties
While most of the wedding hype gets focused on the bride, we simply cannot forget about all the tie-wearing folk! Combining a love for drawing with screen-printing, Magneties offers a spin on a traditional wedding accessory. Each design created by artist Annabel Dubuc, finishes with an “elegant yet hip necktie”. Custom orders for entire wedding parties are available, where clients choose from a variety of designs, inks, and tie colours. The images used can be drawings or photos (that are then photoshopped), combined with water based inks (good for the environment, hello!) and quality soft microfiber, resulting in a truly unique accessory for members of your wedding party as well as special friends and family members.

chelsy anne jewelry
A self-taught mother of two, chelsy anne offers simple, eco-modern, silver jewelry made with semi-precious stones and fresh water pearls. Her delightfully intricate pieces offer a wide range of accessories, from hairpieces to earrings, and a bridal specific jewelry line. Her number one tip for the bride is not to “let the dress compete with the jewelry. If you have tons of detail at the top of the dress do statement earrings over a statement necklace.” Having finally found her niche as a jewelry artist, seeing her pieces you can tell that she is influenced by love – and what would be more appropriate as an adornment for a bride?

Flights of Fancy - Photo By foodiePrints
A bridal bouquet that can be dismantled and transformed into hair pieces or wardrobe enhancers!? What? Oh that’s just a creative option possible from Flights of Fancy – creations and custom hair accessories from Kate Arnold. Using everything from reclaimed vintage buttons, jewelry, sparkles, feathers, and more. With an emphasis on the affordable, Flights of Fancy hopes that a custom piece can be found to suit any individual in your wedding party; mothers of the groom, a boutonniere for the dashing gents, bridesmaids, and beyond. The one-of-a-kind pieces range in all sizes as well, from “tiny flights for glower girls to large statement pieces for very bold brides!” Consultations are recommended so that flights can be created with the bride’s vision of her special day in mind. And with any luck, the gorgeous custom pieces can be worn again!

Higashi Design
Pulling inspiration from bridal gowns, a bride’s personality, the shape or colour of a crystal, or even a tight deadline, Higashi Design produces individually tailored and personalized jewelry and headpieces. Melonie got her start making wedding jewelry after a friend asked for a handmade tiara. She made the crossover from the world of high tech to full-time jewelry making and has “been riding a great wedding referral wave” ever since. Using semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystal and freshwater pearls set in either sterling silver or 14K gold-filled; Higashi Design offers pieces blending the simplicity and harmony of her Japanese heritage and some intricately detailed designs. Taking into account each bride’s personal taste and budget, she even provides complimentary gift-wrapping – one less thing to worry about!

Bel Bridal
Bel Bridal offers variety of handmade bridal accessories that range from vintage glamour to modern chic and a combination of the two. Owner Isobel's selection of accessories are designed to change any outfit into something special. Each of Bel Bridal's designs are created by hand with loving care and all are unique and special.

urbanite jewelry
Owner and designer Krista Leben designs jewelry that’s fresh and modern. urbanite jewelry's simple, modern and sophisticated designs are perfect for the bride who wants something unique for her and her bridesmaids. Urbanite’s pieces are designed with the philosophy that simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication in mind, and Krista’s styles appeal to a wide range of women—from brides to junior bridesmaids to the mother of the bride.