http://www.weddingdresspicture.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/mother-of-the-bride-dresses.jpg

One of the most often heard dilemmas in wedding planning is what should the moms wear?  Do you have them wear long or short dresses?  What colour should they wear and should the two moms coordinate so that one doesn’t upstage the other?

Well, the answers to these questions are simple but not necessarily set in stone; so, use these tips as guidelines when looking for mother of the bride dresses in Vancouver (or mother of the groom) or anywhere else for that matter.

Colour:

The colour mom wears should compliment the overall theme of the wedding and it should go well with the bridesmaid’s dresses.  Etiquette tells us the mother of the bride chooses her colour before the mother of the groom and that the ladies outfits should compliment each other.  Both moms should not clash with each other or with the bridesmaids.  If a complimentary colour does not work with either mom, they should wear something neutral.

Some basic and fabulous mother of the bride colour choices are lavender, blue, rose, silver, burgundy or beige.

Style:

The style of the mother of the bride dress depends greatly on the style of the wedding.  A formal evening affair would allow for a full length gown, whereas a lunchtime event or a cocktail party would be perfect for a short dress or two piece suit.  In any case, the length of the mothers’ dresses should be knee length or longer.

Mother of the Bride Dress DON’TS:

Do not wear white.  Always let the bride stand out not blend.

Do not wear black.  It would appear you are either mourning or disapproving of the wedding.

Do not wear very bold colours if this is out of the norm for you.  It will end up making you look tacky.

The final word on what the mother of the bride, or groom for that matter, will be wearing on the wedding day rests with the bride.  The moms should consult with the bride along the way to get her input and to make sure that the dresses will ultimately work with the bride’s vision for her special day.

 http://www.pearlseventsblog.com/2009/06/spotlight-julie-strating-makeup-artist.html

Vancouver is no stranger to the wedding scene as it plays host to many fine bridal shows throughout the year.  If you are a bride to be, you’ve probably already attended one or two yourself. 

But have you been to one like the upcoming Bridal Swap?   This is definitely one you should put on your calendar because a new concept in wedding shows is about to hit this city and you don’t want to miss out. 

What concept?  When?

“Her Something Old is Your Something New… DreamGroup Productions Wedding & Event Planners is bringing a new wedding event concept to Vancouver!  It’s Eco-friendly, it’s Fun, and it’ll help the Budget Conscious Brides!   It’s Vancouver’s 1st Bridal Swap taking place on February 20th, 2011 at Heritage Hall.  This is an event where Past Brides (register your table on our website) & Brides to Be are connected in a fun atmosphere to buy and sell gently used wedding items!  There will also be  a Silent auction of Sample wedding & bridesmaids dresses from Frocks Modern Bridesmaids and Isabelle’s Bridal. In addition, there is a long list of past brides who have signed up to sell their dresses on consignment at the swap.  It’s going to be a whirlwind of fabulous brides on the hunt for that perfect treasure!  Come and be a part of the fun!”

http://www.bridalswap.ca

 info@dreamgroup.ca

http://www.annaelizabethcakes.com

If anyone is interested in winning two tickets to this weekend’s 32nd annual wedding show at the PNE, search “Golden Tree Jewellers” on facebook and click on the “contests” tab.

It promises to be a great exhibition with a ton of prizes available to win, including a dream wedding fund!

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Throughout my years in the wedding industry, I am often asked how to save money on the wedding without compromising the event.  My advice is always the same: recycle. 

Looking for items that have already been used for previous weddings means you can get the things you need at a fraction of the cost.  Take wedding dresses, for example.  Brides buy beautiful, expensive gowns that are going to be worn once for a few hours.  Why not cash in on that purchase by buying one of these used wedding dresses.  You are not sacrificing style or elegance .  The only thing that you are comprising on is wearing a dress that has already be worn by someone else.  So what?  You are saving a hundreds of dollars, isn’t this compromise worth it? 

It is always a good idea to spend some time looking for previously used wedding items.  Not only will you save money but you will also be helping the environment by fulfilling the three basics of recycling: reduce, reuse, recycle. 

Win, win all around!

Say it isn’t so!  Is it that time of year again?  Another summer is finishing up and fall is just around the bend.  If you are planning a fall wedding, it’s crunch time and that means scoring some fantastic fall wedding favours for your guests. 

I love fall weddings because there is so much inspiration around.  From the falling leaves, to their changing colours and the cooler nights, all you have to do is look no further than just outside your door for something special to wow and thank your guests. 

How do you choose?  Well, anything with a fall theme will do or if that doesn’t do it for you choose something in a beautiful fall colour to make your statement .

Fall themed favours are plentiful and fun.  Motifs with maple leaves and rust coloured accents are always popular choices as is anything with a little personalization on it for added appeal.   Candles and soaps are popular favour items any time of year but look for them in fall packaging or shaped in a fall motif.

Whatever you choose to compliment your fall wedding, keep in mind that favours are meant to thank your guests for their presence at your wedding.  Make them special and useful so that your guests feel appreciated.

http://www.tracycakesonline.com/

http://www.tracycakesonline.com/images/home_news/grass.jpg

For any “sweet tooth” out there, this one’s for you.   One of the Lower Mainland’s coolest bakeries/bistros is hosting a wedding contest. One lucky couple could win  wedding cupcakes for their special day.  And we all know how “in” cupcakes are for weddings these days!  These aren’t  just any cupcakes, the National Post was quoted as saying that Tracycakes offers the “most retro delicious cupcakes”!  Wow!!!  Check out the particulars and be sure to enter soon:
“Tracycakes has launched a contest to give away wedding cupcakes to one lucky bride and groom-to-be. All they need to do is email a bit about their love story and tell us why they should win in 500 words or less by May 21st. Winners will receive up to 100 cupcakes or 200 babycakes of any flavour for their special day! Stories can be emailed to info@tracycakesonline.com or dropped off at the White Rock or Abbotsford cafe. The winner will be announced May 28th. For more information, you can visit the website at www.tracycakesonline.com (scroll to bottom for contest details.”

Good luck to all!

http://thetreasuredpetal.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/a-breezy-blue-wedding/

For those of us waking up in Vancouver this morning, a light dusting of snow was what awaited us.  Although this was the first and hopefully the last snow we’ll see this winter, spring really is just around the corner and I for one cannot wait. 

My favourite part of spring is all the beautiful spring flowers that pop up making the city awash in colour and fragrance. 

In keeping with the spring mood, let’s talk flowers!  I love weddings that incorporate lots of flowers from the ceremony to the reception and everywhere in between.  Wedding flowers however, can be a very tricky piece of wedding planning that is often best left to the experts but if having an expert at your disposal is not possible, here is a quick list of flowers that always work and are always appropriate:

• Tulips – these are my favourites.  They are available in lots of different colours and can be used for a soft elegant look or can add bold colour and drama to the event.  These flowers are synonymous with spring, so finding them in the off-season may be difficult and expensive but always worth the effort.  They work great in bridal bouquets and centrepieces but fall flat in the boutonniere or corsage department. 

http://www.theflowerexchange.com/images/weddings/white%20tulip%20bouquet.jpg

• Roses -  roses are always a wedding favourite mainly because they truly symbolize romance and depending on what colour you choose, you accentuate that symbolism further. For example, red roses signify not just love but passion!  Roses work great in all areas of the wedding from the ceremony to the reception and can be used for compact or tall arrangements equally.  Just make sure the buds are open just right as those that are too open, look messy but those that are too tightly shut, lack the natural beauty that roses are known for.

http://www.honeybeeflowers.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=58

• Calla Lilies – these trumpet-shaped flowers are great because they can be used totally alone (with no fillers) to create a gorgeous bouquet! From ceremony to reception, these flowers are great anywhere, even boutonnieres.  Be careful though, these flowers are finicky and mark easily…be gentile.

http://weddingme.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/winter-wedding-flowers/

• Daisies – daisies are so simple yet so perfect.  They are great in bridal bouquets or in centrepieces and can even be used in corsages and boutonnieres.  They are available in lots of colours and add purity and innocence to any event.  Dress them up or keep them casual, daisies are good to go for any event, formal or not!

http://www.marthas-vineyard-vacation-tips.com/gerber-daisy-wedding-bouquets.html

• Orchids – orchids bring the tropics to any event and their exotic appeal works anywhere in your wedding.  From the simplest of arrangements to the most ornate bridal bouquets, orchids add just the right amount of drama.  They come in a variety of colours from simple white to dramatic purples and can be used alone for a modern effect or with other flowers, like roses, for a more interesting look. 

www.romanticweddingflowers.com

Flowers make an excellent addition to any wedding.  The special meaning that many flowers carry combined with the colours and fresh scents that they offer, make them a truly important aspect of your wedding planning.  Choose carefully and choose wisely.  Not all buds are created equal.  Do your homework and make sure you know what flower will work with your overall vision the best.  Best of all, take time to smell the roses….the wedding day will go by quickly; so enjoy every second of it!