So Many Options, How Do You Choose?
Dear Diva,
There are so many reputable magazines, websites, blogs and books that speak to all of the options/ideas that one can incorporate into their own wedding. How does one narrow down the choices and create a comprehensive, inspiring wedding decor?
Charlene Gutscher
You’re right – there are literally thousands of options for your wedding decor. While this means brides to really show their personality through their wedding, it can also be very overwhelming. Here are a few things you can do to help narrow down those choices. Take a little time to sit down with your fiance at the beginning of your planning and decide what areas are most important to you. Maybe a candy buffet is a must have, or perhaps you have always envisioned fabulous tablescapes. Or perhaps the food and music are a big deal to you. What ever it is, write it down and concentrate your efforts on those areas first.
You also need to have an overall plan for the look and feel you are aiming for. Are you going for vintage elegance, retro chic, or rustic beauty? Knowing the look and feel you are aiming for will help you eliminate ideas that are neat but just don’t fit. Make sure you keep your budget in mind as well. If it doesn’t fit your budget, cut it. This will eliminate options that you think are great now, but may regret when the bill comes back.
Last but not least, know your own personality! It seems simple, but most past brides can pick out one or more aspects of their wedding that they could have done without. I it’s not “you” don’t do it, no matter how popular or trendy it may be.
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
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Email your questions to diva@imaginemagazine.ca
Fall/Winter 2008 – Our Cover Story
I have been waiting very patiently over the last few weeks for the day that I could reveal our newest cover and that day is finally here! With this issue, we decided to feature a real Manitoba bride and when we saw this photo from a recent wedding we knew we had our cover!
The bride is Carolyn Friesen and she married Sheldon on July 27, 2008 in Niverville, Manitoba. Her photographer, Charmaine Toews of Final Touch Photography, shot this fabulous photo of Carolyn at the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba. Our gorgeous cover bride had her hair styled by the talented staff at Classic Impressions in Grunthal, Manitoba. Her bouquet was a lovely combination of whites and yellows with a few blue accents for a unique touch, arranged by Evangeline’s Flower Hut in Steinbach, Manitoba. Carolyn’s diamond solitaire ring from Peoples sparkles beautifully.
You can see more of Carolyn’s Wedding in our Real Weddings Gallery!
Our Fall/Winter issue with Carolyn on the cover will hit newsstands later this month. You can order your own copy by clicking here – you’ll pay the same price as the newsstand and we’ll mail it straight to your door without any shipping charges!
You can also receive a free copy when you sign up for a 1 year subscription.
Until next time… Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
Sheldon & Carolyn’s Niverville Wedding
Sheldon & Carolyn (Friesen) Enns
Married July 27, 2008
Niverville Heritage Centre
Niverville, Manitoba
Boy meets girl – Sheldon and Carolyn grew up in the same community and went to school together. If you look at their grade 3 class pictures, you will see that they are the same even though Carolyn cannot remember him from then. They dated for a while when they were younger, but things didn’t work out. She went away to college. They were reacquainted after Carolyn reconnected with his Mom
On bended knee – On a chilly day in April, they went for a walk in Assiniboine Park. Being a plant person Carolyn was completely preoccupied with a plant for a moment and turned to see the ring in Sheldon’s hand. Carolyn said “There was an incredible feeling of promise, being surrounded by all those dead-looking plants that would soon sprout and reveal the life hidden in their branches and roots. It’s hard to describe, but that feeling combined with our official decision to spend our futures together, created a beautiful moment.”
Fabulous details - The wedding took place at the Niverville Heritage Center. The large arrangement of tropical flowers, bamboo, candles and a white sail suspended from the ceiling during the ceremony combined well with the grandeur of the timber frame. The tables were draped in pure white linens and “shell, sand and orchid” centerpieces continued the simple theme. The Heritage Center’s decorating team had suspended round paper lanterns from the ceiling. Evangeline’s Flower Hut did the flowers using yellow roses, white stalk, naturally spiky looking flowers and large tropical leaves to create boutonnieres, corsages and a fantastic bouquet.
Text By Sheila Kolesar
Photography by: Charmaine Toews of Final Touch Photography
Vendor Credits:
Photography Session Location: Mennonite Heritage Village
Hair: Classic Impressions
Rings: People’s Jewelers
Flowers: Evangeline’s Flower Hut
Ceremony & Reception: Niverville Heritage Centre
words of wisdom
“Plan your wedding around your guests. They know and love you and want to see you happy. This made our day less filled with drama and allowed us to justify slowing everything down to experience our wedding and build memories to savor for years to come.” – Carolyn
Top 5 Unique Registry Ideas
For coupls who already have the basics:
1. BBQ Accessories – prepare for summer entertaining with a new bar-b-que, bbq tools, cookbooks, bbq covers and more.
2. Sports Equipment – Enjoy time together, doing the things you love! Register for equipment for sports you enjoy, or for sports you would like to try as a couple and expand your interests.
3. Camping Equipment – Love to camp? Add some new camping gear to your list and enjoy weekends away just the two of you for summers to come.
4. Yard & Garden – Lawnmowers, patio furniture, gardening tools, and more to help spruce up your yard, garden or deck.
5. Art – Add a touch of culture to your new home with a great piece of original art.
Unexpected Glitch on Your Wedding Day
Insurance is not something that is usually associated with weddings. However, living in a imperfect world, occasionally something can go wrong. Perhaps the photographer loses the pictures. Or, as happened in Winnipeg last year, your chosen venue goes out of business before your wedding. Instead of having to pay double or write off the losses, you can now buy protection with a Wedding Gaurd insurance policy.
“We are pleased to be able to offer the Wedding Guard policy,” says Nicole Leclair, a broker with BSI Insurance Brokers.
The premium for a Wedding Guard policy is $100.
Coverage is up to $4,000 for cancellation expenses (where the bride and groom have prepaid); up to $2,500 for retakes of wedding photos; up to $2,500 for damage to or loss of wedding attire (including the groomsmen and bridesmaids); up to $5,000 for loss of or damage to wedding presents; and up to $2,000 for non-refundable honeymoon arrangements (should the honeymoon have to be postponed or cancelled).
A seperate Party Alcohol Liability (PAL) insurance policy covers socials and can be included with the wedding package.
PAL premiums of $170 provide up to $1 million in liquor liability coverage.
The policy covers functions with between 100 and 500 guests.
You pay more or less for larger or smaller functions.
The bride and groom may also want to consider travel insurance for their honeymoon should your baggage go missing, somebody gets sick or the honeymoon has to be interrupted for any reason.
P.S. Cake Designs Grand Opening
On October 24, I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of P.S. Cake Designs in Steinbach. P.S. Cake Designs is a wonderful specialty cake and dessert boutique run by Pauline & Stephanie, mother/daughter team. These talented women offer a delicious assortment of gourmet cupcakes, cookies, cakes and coffees during business hours, and you can even enjoy a fabulous Belgian waffle on Friday and Saturday mornings.
Pauline & Stephanie offer a fabulous selection of custom wedding cakes and they also sell cake supplies, rent cake pans and teach cake decor classes for those who would like to try it themselves.
P.S. Cake Designs is located on Main Street in Steinbach and is worth the drive to enjoy their fabulous desserts and amazing cakes. Watch for one of their newest designs featured in Your Wedding… Imagine later this month!
Shown in the photo below: Stephanie, Pauline & Crystal
Until next time… Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
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