It's All in the Details: Ashley Lindzon Events

This will go down in history as one of our proudest posts. Today we reveal the much anticipated launch of Ashley Lindzon Events. The talent behind this fabulous new company is none other than our very own A!

If you’re a WTB reader, then you already know that A has a unique eye for detail and true passion for flair. Ashley Lindzon Events will bring life to any gathering, big or small, from weddings and showers to rehearsal dinners, birthday bashes and more.

Consultations are free of charge, so if you’re in the Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa area and are looking for the ultimate ‘party perfectionist’, you’ve found her.

Visit www.ashleylindzon.com and see for yourself!

Sincerely,

S

Real Wedding: Alana and Joni

This week marked a big first for me. I planned my first wedding (other than my own). And if I do say so myself, I think it went perfectly! Alana and Joni are an amazing couple and were such a joy to work with.

The wedding was held in a friends' backyard and it was the perfect backdrop for their romantic and intimate ceremony and dinner.

When guests entered they were greeted by many lovely little details. We had a birdcage, to hold all of the cards, a collage of the happy couple, flowers and lanterns. There was also an area for guests to write notes to the newlyweds and hang them with clothespins. The notes had different phrases on them for guests to write on, including "I knew Alana and Joni would be married when...", "In 50 years...", "You two are perfect together because..." and more.

Hor d'oevres and cocktails were served while guests arrived. A delectable cheese tray was on display and enjoyed by all, along with breads, crackers, veggies and an assortment of dips.

The ceremony started with a heartfelt speech from Alana's dad and then the two were married surrounded by a close gathering of their friends and family.  The love between them was so evident to everyone and it was an emotional and memorable ceremony.

Champagne was passed to everyone to share in a toast to the very happy and now married couple. Stir sticks were in each glass which read 'Alana and Joni' on one side and either 'Cheers!' or 'Salud!' on the other.

And then came some fun....

Dinner was catered by Barque Smokehouse and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. On the menu was caesar salad, cajun corn, potato salad, smoked chicken, smoked beef brisket and fresh buns.

The flowers were provided by Alison at Coriander Girl and were kept simple with white and green arrangements. The flowers were displayed in a variety of the bride's vintage mason jars and milk glass vases. Among the flowers we added mason jars filled with sand and candles and wrapped with raffia. As an extra personal touch we created fun facts about the couple and had them dispersed among the tables.

After some emotional and truly thoughtful speeches and toasts, the sweet table was opened. For the backdrop, I picked up a spare piece of wood lying on the side of the road and dressed it up with a DIY tissue paper garland.  An assortment of candy was served and adorned by birdcages and lanterns filled with candles. Later in the night, cookies and popcorn were added to the table (but I don't have any pictures).

For favors, Joni and Alana wanted to share a piece of their homes with their guests.  We made paper bag favors with 'thanks' and 'gracias' printed on them and used a Martha Stewart stencil cutter to scallop the edges. Inside guests were given a mini bottle of dulce de leche from Argentina and a mini bottle of Canadian maple syrup. The bride and groom also included personalized thank you cards inside each bag.

All photos were taken by Ted Chai.

It was an amazing evening and I was so pleased to be a part of it.

Congratulations again to Alana and Joni!

Yours Truly,

A

Sneak Peak: Alana and Joni

"Te quiero y solamente usted." - Laura Ramirez

I had the honour and  privilege of working with Alana and Joni to plan their backyard wedding.  The happy couple decided to get married on July 31st and 42 days later it all came together seamlessly. Alana and Joni tied the knot surrounded by family and friends from around the world. Alana is Canadian and Joni is Argentinian, but the couple speak the same language: love.

Below is a sneak peak of their wedding, documented by Ted Chai:

Congratulations and Felicitaciones to the happy couple!  Your love is inspirational and it was a sincere joy to be a part of your wedding day as your planner and as your friend.

Stay tuned for many more pictures next week!

Yours Truly,

A

Real Wedding: Cori and Jordan

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." - Audrey Hepburn

Cori and Jordan were married on May 20, 2012 in Toronto, Ontario. It was a sunny and warm day and the couple had their picture perfect wedding.  Every detail was planned and brilliantly executed by Sarah Cherry from Baker & Cherry Event Specialists. The Warehouse Event Venue was the host to this lavish affair and Scarlet O'Neill and Jesse Cappe of Big Ticket Productions were there to capture every moment.

Cori and Jordan said their "I do's" surrounded by their friends and family under the Chuppah which their groomsmen carried down the aisle. The flowers were created  by Susanna Carlascio at Wildflower & Company and were bright, bold and memorable.  It is easy to see why they were Cori's favourite detail from her wedding day.

C2 Catering Couture provided the food for the event and every dish was beautifully presented. Guests danced the night away to the tunes of Grooveyard.

Check out some highlights below from the talented Scarlet O'Neill:

Thank you Cori for sharing your wonderful wedding day with us. Wishing you and Jordan a lifetime of happiness!

Yours Truly,

A

All You Need is LOVE

"Friends don't let friends drink wine alone." - Unknown

Last weekend I was happy to be a part of my friend Emily's bachelorette extravaganza. Her MOH, who brilliantly planned the entire weekend, asked me to help out with the paper goods for the festivities and naturally, I jumped on the chance to get crafty. The bride-to-be's future last name is Love (I know, right??), making for the perfect starting point for our theme. I decided to play on the 'I heart NY' logo but instead spell LOVE (see below).

With the 'LOVE' theme in mind, I created custom water bottles, stickers and signs to accessorize the brunch table and home.

The fun began at the maid of honor's home, where we feasted on a delicious breakfast, including a cereal bar, croissants, scones, muffins, fruit salad and more. Shortly after we were picked up by a bus and brought to Niagara-on-the-Lake for an afternoon of wine tasting. On board the bus, we were greeted with "Love" bags which had water bottles and snacks to keep everyone hydrated and full throughout the day. We visited 4 vineyards, had a delectable lunch and tried some fabulous wines and cheeses.

Upon our return to Toronto, we had dinner (and a little karaoke!) at Cadillac Lounge and continued on to Stones Place for an epic dance party.

After very little sleep and with great effort (for some of us), we gathered the next morning at Le Select for a lovely brunch. As a surprise, Emily's mom and family friends joined us, and we all enjoyed a beautifully scrumptious brunch and a toast to the bride-to-be. Along with the help of Em's bridesmaids, I prepared a crossword puzzle all about the bride and groom. The program I used was Armored Penguin and they turned out great. They were displayed at each place setting for guests when they arrived, and we all had a good laugh as we completed them!

It was a fabulous weekend and a wonderful way to get everyone excited for September 28th!
42 days and counting...it will be here before we know it!

Yours Truly,

A

For My Man...

"To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world." - Brandi Snyder

Today is a very special day for Mr. X and I. Not only is it Mr. X's birthday, but it is also our one year anniversary of getting engaged!!  One year ago today, Mr. X made me, without a doubt, the happiest girl in the world by asking me to be his wife. From that day forward our lives were changed and we have been riding high ever since.  I cannot believe what this past year has brought and I am so excited for the years ahead with my new hubby.

Today is a reminder to make your wedding day about your man, just as much (well, almost) as it is about you.  Mr. X made one request leading up to our wedding day; he wanted to play hockey that morning. Hockey has been a big part of Mr. X's life ever since he could tie up his skates and since his initial idea was a Stanley Cup wedding cake, this seemed relatively reasonable.  He invited his family and friends to join him on the ice, in their favourite jersey, for an outdoor game of 'pickup' hockey and a few bevvies.  Danielle Da Silva was there to capture the moments hours before we tied the knot.

Highlights from Mr. X's morning:

Happy Birthday Mr. X! I love you more than a blogpost can sum up and look forward to many wonderful memories to come. Thank you for an incredible year.

Yours Truly,

A (or I guess, Mrs. X)

Keep On Truckin'

Let it be known that we are BIG fans of the late night wedding snack. We like a little salty along with our sweet, and you can count on party-goers appreciating a quick greasy fix post-dance floor. There are so many fabulously cute ideas for serving up delish mini eats at the stroke of midnight, but a relatively recent trend is the food truck phenomenon. Having one of those bad boys roll up will wow the guests while simultaneously satisfying their (most likely, drunken) cravings.

When it comes to Montreal, the talented foodies behind Grumman '78 deliver an array of tacos to die for, with vegetarian options like refried beans with Spanish pimento, pickled onions and julienne radish topped with feta, or the heartier braised beef burrito for meat lovers. End your evening with a fiesta!

In Ottawa, the renowned Relish the Flavour carts a slew of delectable delights, inspired by Canadian, Mexican and Asian flavours, such as the fried green tomato open faced sammy with basil mayo and home made potato chips, masa cakes with jerk chicken and mango salsa, and fresh mini doughnuts with strawberry sauce. Yes please!

Toronto hauls the likes of Gourmet Bitches, stacked with a seriously bitchin' menu. Besides the fact that we LOVE the name (obviously), this food truck totes something for everyone, with tamarind and kiwi beef sliders, dry rub chicken wings and Korean yam fries to name a few (there's even a kale and arugula salad with garlic chips for skinny bitches). Love it.

Gourmet grub like this will have your guests talking...with their mouths full.

Until next time,

A & S

Real Wedding: A and Mr. X

"There is no more lovely, friendly and charming communion or company than a good marriage." - Martin Luther King

It is been four months since we tied the knot, and I think about my wedding (almost) daily. I would do it again monthly if that was socially acceptable. We made memories to last a lifetime and are grateful to our family and friends whom made it possible.

This past week I was delighted to learn that our wedding was featured in the latest issue of WedLuxe; my bible through the wedding planning process. I am honoured to be included in their publication and am excited to share our day with their (and our) readers. So without further ado, here are the highlights of our wedding, as outlined by WedLuxe.  A full list of our vendors are detailed in the article.

Ashley + Daniel | Wedluxe

Yours Truly,

A