Inspiration Overload?
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 décor?
Charlene G
Steinbach, MB
There is a wealth of information and inspiration available for brides planning their weddings and you are right, at times it can become overwhelming. There are a few things you can do to help you narrow down the choices to create a wedding that best reflects your own personal style.
The first step is to know your budget. I can’t stress that point enough. One of the easiest ways to eliminate a lot of choices is to set a budget that details exactly what you can afford to spend on each area of the wedding. You can find a budget worksheet on www.imaginemagazine.ca to help you get your budget in order. Once you have this done, you can easily eliminate ideas that do not fit into your budget.
The next step is to know what your wedding style or theme will be. Spend some time together with your fiancé brainstorming what your prefect wedding would entail. What do you want guests to feel or see when they arrive? What do you want the experience to be like? What will it look like? What aspects of your personality do you want to show through? What colors will you use? Make a list of all the descriptive words you would use to describe your wedding. Is it a casual, relaxed affair in a warm summer garden? A sophisticated, elegant formal soirée? A romantic, traditional candlelight event? There is no wrong answer – but having a detailed description of your wedding will allow you to easily eliminate ideas that just don’t fit the look or feel you are trying to achieve.
The last step is to choose your inspiration sources carefully. Your Wedding… Imagine Magazine offers inspiration from local vendors and brides which means that you won’t be disappointed when you find that the item you loved isn’t available to you. Other great local sources of inspiration include local vendors, local bridal shows and recent brides. When choosing books or websites to get inspiration from, look for sites that offer inspiration for your style of wedding, your location or your budget.
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
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Have a question for The Wedding Diva?
Email your questions to diva@imaginemagazine.ca
The 7 Benefits of Using A Day-Of Wedding Coordinator
Your “BIG day” is around the corner. Although you’ve attended to every detail involved in planning your wedding prior to the event… what’s your strategy for the day-of your wedding? Will you be carring the flowers? Or, will you be laden down with a cell phone, clipboard, an itinerary… to ensure the seamless execution of one of themost important days of your life?
Today’s Winnipeg bride onlyneeds to carry her bouquet and have a “Day-of” Winnipeg Wedding Coordinator take care of everything else.
7 Benefits of Using A Day-Of Wedding Coordinator
1. Affordable
2. Helps at the rehearsal.
3. Assists with timelines.
4. Ensures a stress-free event.
5. Handles unexpected developments.
6. Offers cost saving tips to maximize budget.
7. Provides vendor coordination.
Meet with a few coordinators, find one within your budget that both of you like and remember, the coordinator is working for you… not for the hotel or hall.
Text by Norma-Jean Alt
Saving Without Compromising?
Dear Diva,
We are planning a wedding for the summer of 2010 and our biggest question is how to keep the cost down. We would like to serve our guests great food and offer a open bar. It seems that those are the two greatest expenses of the whole wedding and we are on a relatively tight budget. How do we plan a budget friendly wedding without compromising on quality?
Crystal S.
Brandon, MB
This may be the most asked wedding planning question there is – how do I have my dream wedding without spending a fortune? The good news is that with planning and research, there are ways to keep costs down without compromising on the things that are important to you.
The best way to save on an open bar is to offer a limited selection and a limited time frame. Instead of offering an open bar for the entire event, consider offering wine during dinner with an open bar during the dance. When you are ready to open the bar, have a selection of signature drinks and cocktails for guests to choose from. Your venue or bartender will be able to help you put together a selection of 3-4 drinks that will offer something for all tastes while keeping your costs down. Signature drinks are very trendy right now and give your event a sophisticated elegance as well.
When it comes to saving money on the meal – it’s all about taste. Your guests will be much happier with a fantastic chicken dish than they would be with a steak and lobster dinner that isn’t prepared well. Before settling on one caterer, shop around. Ask your caterers to prepare samples of some of their more affordable options for you to taste and choose a dish that fits your budget while still tasting delicious. A common mistake brides make is in assuming that buffet style will be cheaper than plated service. Often, the opposite is true because buffet service requires more food per guest than plated service. The main key is to do your research to make sure you are getting the best taste at the best price.
Your caterer and wedding planner can also offer valuable insight into small changes that can save a lot of money without sacrificing style or taste.
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
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Have a question for The Wedding Diva?
Email your questions to diva@imaginemagazine.ca
Wedding Party Transportation?
Dear Diva,
My bridesmaids and I are getting ready at the hotel that the ceremony is being held at. Am I responsible for their transportation to the hotel?
Jody R.
Winnipeg, MB
You are not required to provide transportation to the hotel but it may be worth considering depending on the situation. For example, if all of your wedding party members are from the same area and need to drive a distance to reach the hotel, providing transportation will be better for the environment, will allow the girls time together before the prep begins, and will ensure that everyone arrives together and on time. When bridesmaid #1 gets lost trying to find the hotel and shows up an hour late, you may wish you had taken the time to plan the transportation in advance.
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
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Have a question for The Wedding Diva?
Email your questions to diva@imaginemagazine.ca
Spring/Summer 2009 – Our Cover Story
Cover Photography by Wedlife Photography
Spring is here and with spring comes the newest edition of Your Wedding… IMAGINE Magazine, the wedding magazine for the modern bride. This issue includes a number of exciting features that you won’t want to miss. You will also find valuable resources and vendors for your Winnipeg wedding, Brandon wedding, Kenora Wedding, and through-out Manitoba.
Our Spring/Summer 2009 cover bride is Solange Gallant. Solange married Winnipeg Blue Bomber Shawn Gallant in a gorgeous beach side ceremony on April 4th, 2009 photographed by Wedlife Photography. Inside this issue of Your Wedding… IMAGINE Magazine you will find exclusive photos and wedding details from this fantastic destination wedding on the beaches of the Mayan Riviera.
A few other features you won’t want to miss:
- Wedding décor expert Colin Cowie shares wedding cake trends and inspiration from his newest book Wedding Chic: 1001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration.
- Glen Peloso of Restaurant Make-over and Take This House and Flip It on HGTV offers advice to help you combine your style with your fiancé’s style for a unified feel you will both love.
- Real Manitoba brides share photos, wisdom and inspiration from their recent weddings.
- Wedding planning advice for every aspect for your wedding – from the ring to the honeymoon and beyond.
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Solange & Shawn GallantExclusive wedding photos and details from Solange and Winnipeg Blue Bomber Shawn Gallant’s April 4, 2009 wedding. |
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Colin CowieWedding décor expert Colin Cowie shares wedding cake trends and inspiration from his newest book Wedding Chic: 1001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration. |
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Real WeddingsLocal brides share their wedding stories, their photos, their advice and their vendor choices with us. You’re sure to be inspired and find some helpful ideas and resources as well. |
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Glen PelosoGlen Peloso of Restaurant Make-over and Take This House and Sell It on HGTV offers advice to help you combine your style with your fiancé’s style for a unified feel you will both love. |
Our Spring/Summer issue will be available on newsstands starting in May. Pre-order a copy today and we will mail a copy to you at no extra cost. Click here to pre-order your copy or visit our subscription page to sign up for a 1 year subscription and receive your copy for free!
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
Lloyd & Brae’s Manitoba Wedding
Lloyd & Brae (McKenzie) Drummond
Married July 19, 2008
Treherne, Manitoba
Boy Meets Girl – Lloyd, who is a Treherne area farmer, and Brae, a nurse, first met in 1999 at a youth group gathering in Wawanesa. They started dating in 2002. “I liked his humour and rugged good looks,” Brae says. “He was attracted to me because of my blond hair and my smile.”
On Bended Knee – Lloyd proposed to Brae while the two of them were on a quad ride together in the Sand Hills. “We stopped on a cliff where he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him,” Brae recalls.
Kiss The Bride – Lloyd and Brae had a traditional church wedding in Treherne. Brae wore a formal, floor-length wedding gown and Lloyd a tuxedo.
Fabulous Details – Lloyd and Brae’s catered dinner at the town hall in Treherne was a traditional turkey supper with all the trimmings – the stuffing, the gravy and the vegetables. The wedding cake was a three-tiered white cake with flowers cascading off it and a purple ribbon around the base of each tier.
Their Time Away – The newlyweds went to the Whiteshell for a week. They rented a cabin at the Jessica Lake Lodge.
Text By Myron Love
