Our B'day-Gal Friday

"The way I see it, you should treat everyday like it's your birthday." - Paris Hilton

TGIF! But today not only marks the start of the weekend; today we celebrate the birthday of our dear buddy, JM. Pals since the early days of elementary, with enough memories to last a lifetime, we raise our glass (of diet coke, of course), and toast to the 28th birthday of a truly wonderful friend (slightly emotional at times, this is where JM begins to get a little misty eyed).

One more candle on that Loblaws cake...Happy JM Day!!!

Until next time,

A & S

Rainbow Bright

"Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true..." - Dorothy (Wizard of Oz)

Bright colours are definitely 'in' this season and they are a sure way to add some life and laughter into your wedding day decor.  Neon brights have a contagious affect in making people feel happy and the spring and summer is the best time to showcase these hues.  To take adding vibrant colours to an extreme, you could go so far to make your wedding day a rainbow themed affair.  Be it with subtle accents or bold screams of colour, we think the rainbow wedding will have everyone giddy with excitement.

Check out these 'bright' ideas:

Rainbow filling by Love and Olive Oil

Candy Coasted Rainbow cake found on Pinterest

Photo taken from Pinterest

Ombre Rainbow Totes from The Wedding Chicks

Add colour to your bouquet - photo from Style Me Pretty

Rainbow photo op - found on Pinterest

Stunning!! Photo taken from Imgfave.com

Rainbow bridal party! Found on Pinterest

At the end of every storm comes a rainbow, and maybe a little wedding inspiration too!

Until Next Time,

A & S

WTB Hearts: Prairie Lane Boutique

After the wedding has come to an end, comes the time to choose your photos and start selecting which ones will make the album and which few will be featured in your home.  After all of your hard work, your wedding photo deserves a special place on your wall and you will need to start shopping for picture frames. Your wedding day is the foundation for the rest of your lives and having the photos on display will remind you of the vows you took and the memories you made.

Prairie Lane Boutique, run by the friendly and Canadian owner Dawn, specializes in hand painted wood picture frames and wall decor.  She has an array of customized picture frames with quotes about love and life that would be a great choice for your wedding photos and will also make great gifts for showers or wedding day presents.  She also offers beautifully painted, shabby chic signs for your home or to add to any photo shoots.

Check out some of our favourites:

The frame A presented her mom with on her wedding day

Many more frames and signs can be found through the Prairie Lane Boutique shop.

Until Next Time,

A & S

Light It Up!

"Love is the light to darkness." - Anonymous

As Mr. X and I shop around for our new dining room chandelier, I am reminded of their romance and elegance and think they are the perfect addition to your wedding decor.  A chandelier can turn a rustic barn wedding into the most intimate and warm setting and a striking crystal fixture hanging from a canopy can complete the look for your nuptials.  If your love for sparkle and glam wasn't enough, these pictures are sure to have you drooling and begging for a chandelier.

Add a chandelier to your outdoor ceremony! Simply Breathtaking! Photo from Bridal Guide

Picture perfect! Photo taken from Style Me Pretty

Transform your tent with chandeliers - photo taken from Everything Entertainment

Add some class to the barn wedding with hanging fixtures - found on  With a Flourish Events

Hang chandeliers over your tables - photo taken from Bride Finds

Say your I Dos with style - Autumn Burke Photography

Let everything shine on your big day!

Yours truly,

A

'Pop' Goes the Weasel

I live for sweet tables and find myself always looking for a newer and better idea to share and when this one 'popped' up, I was in love! If you or your groom are popcorn enthusiasts, why not wow your guests with a popcorn bar?  It is fun, playful, aesthetically pleasing and best of all, original! The other bonus about having popcorn served at your next event is it is easy for guests to enjoy while standing (there's nothing worse than trying to juggle your fork and wine glass).  Not to mention, the play on words you could use for 'popping' and 'pop' are endless. Fill your apothecary jars with different flavoured popcorn and add labels for a whimsical and memorable table.  And if popcorn is your thing, but you don't want to dedicate your whole sweet table to it, add labelled boxes filled with popcorn as a treat. Be creative with this idea and have fun!

After a recent trip to Chicago, I haven't been able to get the delicious Garrett's popcorn out of my head (or my teeth for that matter) and luckily it lead me to stumble upon these images:

Who doesn't love popcorn and champagne? Image found at Garrett Popcorn

         Beautifully labelled popcarn jars found at Sarah Lee Weaver

He "popped" the question....love it! Images found at Amy Atlas

Stunning popcorn bar found at Occasions Online

Thanks for 'popping' by!

Yours truly,

A

Trippin' Out

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

They say the best things in life are free, and while this may be true to a certain extent, traveling comes with a major price tag. 

Planning a honeymoon is a fun and exciting process. The first step is establishing a budget, followed by selecting a destination, and then going on to explore the endless possibilities!

These days there are so many travel related websites, it’s hard to know where to look! Reading hotel and resort reviews from fellow travelers can be educational, however, you never know if the people writing them have the same expectations as you and your significant other.

We’ve comprised a list of what we’ve found to be the best websites for luxury accommodations at a discount. 

Luxury Link

A wide variety of package deals around the world can be found, with savings of over 50% off on everything from private villas in the Costa Rican rainforest, to cozy, wine-infused nights in Napa Valley.

Vacationist

An affiliate of Luxury Link, this members-only site features flash sales on cream-of-the-crop accommodations.

Jetsetter

A bevy of destinations are listed regularly in addition to the timed sales that vary by the day, here you’ll find some of the world’s finest hotels for living it up lavishly.

*Our fave bonus feature? The ‘What to Know’ and ‘What We Love’ sections, detailing ‘heads up’ sort of info that you typically wouldn’t find on other sites.

Tablet Hotels

Exclusive pricing on top tier stays across the globe, and a select few private sales on hidden treasure resorts, this site grants its member’s access to the best of the best.

Hotwire

If gambling is your thing, then why not give this a go! The super low prices are offered on the ‘Hot Rates’; this is where you can filter by desired area and star rating but the name of the hotel will not appear until you’ve completed the payment process. It will indicate hotels comparable in caliber, but will not guarantee which one you’ll be booking with.

*WTB tip: Use this site for major cities and always choose 4 stars or higher (we recommend not taking your chances with more remote destinations with fewer major hotel chains).

The honeymoon is key for all newlyweds; whether it’s a weekend road trip to a rustic inn or a lavish resort on a tropical island, it’s a supremely wonderful way to spend some quality time celebrating each other.

Until next time,

A & S

Heads up!

Accessorizing on your wedding day allows you to have some fun and be bold while wearing your classic 'white dress'.   Choosing between a fascinator, headband, or veil is a tough decision for your wedding day since they will help in completing your look.  Some brides like to stay classy and conservative and sport the ever popular floor sweeping veil while others have opted for the more modern and edgy look with stylized headpieces. Either way, be sure to think ahead about your hair garments, as they are one extra detail not to be missed.

Sara Gabriel is a Denver-based designer offering exquisite pieces sold in many of our bridal boutiques in Canada.  She has a large line of traditional veils to pair with any gown and has an equally impressive line of fascinators and headpieces.  Be warned, you will most likely fall in love with her entire collection!

Check out some of our faves:

Super dramatic Ginger Veil

An avante-garde bow - the Jaclyn Headband

This stunning flower combines silk and tulle and we love the Janet Comb

A modern short veil with pearls and crystal embellishment - Joan Veil

Horse hair bow - Natalie Clip

A romantic tulle veil - the Wendy Veil

A swoon worthy feather headband with Swarovski crystals - the Sloane Headband

Sara Gabriel headpieces can be found at Pearl Bridal House, Mia Bridal, The White Dress, and L'atelier Perla in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal respectively.  Be sure to also check out their jewelry and sashes as they are equally breathtaking.

Until Next Time,

A & S

Green With Envy

A supremely stunning hue, green is an excellent accent or even main colour choice for springtime affairs. It seems only fitting, with today being St. Patty's Day, to showcase this naturally rich shade.

Fabulous florals...

Bouquet - Martha Stewart Weddings

Tabletop Decor - This Modern Romance

Bouquet - Pinterest

Paper perfection...

Letterpress Invitation - Bella Figura

Calligraphic Stationary - Martha Stewart Weddings

Sweet treats...

Dessert Table - Amy Atlas

Hand Painted Cookies - Pinterest

Candy Buffet - Your Event Unveiled

Cake Decor - Style Me Pretty

Flirty frocks...

Bridesmaid Dress - Jenny Yoo via Pinterest

Bridal Party - Style Me Pretty

Green beer is okay today...NOT for the big day ;)

Cheers!

A & S