The Wedding Planners Blog

A Cure for the Groom's "Cold Feet" on the Wedding Day

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

No, this post isn't about wedding day jitters, it's about the latest wedding day trend for grooms: Socks with Personality.

It's hard for a groom to really express himself and his style on his wedding day.  A rented tux, rented shoes, there isn't toomuch variation, so what's a groom to do?  Go for some funky socks.  There are several lines available and at a recent trip to Andrews Formals there was a whole rack of fun socks called Good Luck Sock.

My groom was sporting two looks from Andrews Formals, so here are the socks he wore:

He also wore a black pair with white X's all over with a couple red hearts for the O's.

I also picked up these socks:

 

Other brands available in stores or online include: Happy Socks, Joy of Socks, Sock it to Me, Zoraab, Sock Dreams and the list goes on and on.

New Trend: "Will you be my 'Maid?" Showers

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

There is a new trend on the wedding front, "Will you be my Bridesmaid?" Showers.

Source: Pretty My Party

The bride throws a party to announce that she is getting married and to ask her Besties to be her 'Maids.

Photo: Christie Graham Photography

When everything is soon to be all about the Bride, it is a nice way for the bride to celebrate her friends and make them feel special.  This was traditionally done with a Bridemaid's Tea, but so many have forgotten that important tradtion.

Source: WN.com

Beautiful Wedding Cakes

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

Wedding cakes are steeped in tradition and an important part of every wedding. Did you know, according to etiquette, the only things a newlywed couple need to provide to their guests is a drink to toast with and a piece of cake?

There are so many talented wedding cake artists, I thought we should shine the spotlight on a few.

This handpainted beauty is by Nadia & Co.

Sandcastles Naked Cake by Pat-a-Cake-Pat-a-Cake.

The perfect way to top off a naked cake is beautiful florals, just remember, never put flowers in or directly on a cake, use posey picks or another barrier to avoid poisoning guests. ;)

Eunmi Park of SweeterE made this gorgeous cake for my Scoops of Love Wedding shoot that was featured on Wedding Obsession.

Dendrobiums by Cake Heart Custom Cakes and Cupcakes.

These beautiful cakes took cake artist, Alexandria Pellegrino of Cake Opera, 30 hours to paint.

This silver and white cake is by Coco Cakes.

Confectionery Designs by Mark Soliday.

This icy princess is by Maggie Austen Cake

Wedding cakes are like every other element of a wedding, they are personal to the couple. So have fun, just don't smash it in your partner's face!  Feeding each other wedding cake is a sign of mutual respect ;)

Beach Ball Confetti!

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

(Photo by Elaine Palladino Photography)

A new trend has been turning up at beach weddings everywhere, beach ball confetti!

(Photo by Aaron Rebarchek Photography) 

Not only does it look great in photos, it adds to the feeling of celebration for everyone.

Get mini beach balls in 4″ or 6″ here.

Surprise! It's a Wedding!

Photo courtesy of photographer, MeganWelker.com

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

I have been apart of one surprise wedding and I think I was more nervous about it than the couple was!

The couple held their surprise wedding at the bride's family farm.  It had the look and feel of any other wedding, complete with a tent, beautiful decor, a band and a full, catered meal.  Everyone invited was happy and excited with the surprise.  Phew!

Planning a surprise wedding is both easier and more challenging.  It is easier because the couple doesn"t have to deal with everyone offering their input on their wedding.  It is more difficult because everyone in the know must be trusted to keep the secret

Why a Surprise Wedding?

• To avoid interference.
• So guests do not bring gifts.
• To keep the wedding more casual.

Who should know?

• If either of you have children, you must give them time to deal with this life change.  This marriage will effect their lives too, so they MUST be in the know.
• Parents will be very hurt if they are left out.
• Anyone who may have a heart attack or other physical distress at the emotional surprise should be forewarned as well.
• Anyone coming from a distance who may otherwise decline the party invitation.

How to hold a Surprise Wedding?

• The couple or their families invite guests on the pretense of another event such as a birthday party, engagement party, reunion or some other event.  My couple invited everyone to an Engagement Party.
• Announce the wedding with an entrance sign, or have the MC or Wedding Officiate make the announcement.  
• Give everyone a few minutes to digest the information and make sure a photographer or videographer are there to capture the guests' reactions,

Tips

• If you want guests to be on time they need to have a reason to be there.  Tell them there will be special entertainment or that it is a surprise party.
• Be prepared for food sensitivities, special diets and allergies.  If you can covertly get these details, great, if not, order lots of alternative meals from the caterer.

If you are considerate of your loved ones' feelings, surprise wedding can be a lot of fun and alleviate a ton of stress for everyone involved.  as with all weddings, it just comes down to great planning!

Thank you to Megan Welker for the use of this fabulous photo.

An Ice Cream Bar at Your Wedding

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

Earlier this year, I put together a sweet style shoot, complete with a Marble Slab Ice Cream Station from Marble Slab Mississauga!

I think having an Ice Cream station from Marble Slab Creamery is such a fun idea!

They start with pre-scooped vanilla and chocolate ice cream.

They bring all of these toppings, plus chocolate and caramel syrup, which the attendent prepares for your guests.

No mess, and the guests get an unexpected, custom treat!

Trust me, everyone will love it!

Especially the adults!

Photos by:  Rohan Laylor of Phat Dog Visuals

Planner: Danielle of The Wedding Planners

Bar Rental & Decor: DT Floral & Decor

Ice Cream: Marble Slab Creamery Mississauga

Location: Paletta Mansion

Dress: Maggie Sotero via She's So Beautiful

Tuxedos: Andrew's Formal

Cake: SweeterE

Wedding samples delivered to your door monthly!

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

Okay, how fun is this?!  Cool wedding items and samples, in a pretty box, delivered to your door every single month! Photo: StudioWedBox.com

The folks at Studio Wed Box spend all month curating new & fun wedding items and then send them off with some wedding wisdom. Photo: MySubscriptionAddiction.com

Perfect for engaged couples, I signed up for this last week, and we are all excited.  The cost of an annual subscription is $29.99/month.  I figure we will get great items for our emergency kits and we will discover new products to tell our couples about!

A similiar company is The Bride Box, which sends a different themed-box each month for $35.

Photo: TheBrideBox.com

Designated Driver Services for Weddings

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

Did you know that wedding couples are just as legally responsible for their guests' safety as the venue is?  It is important for us to get your inebriated guests home safely.  There are a few options; having bus shuttles, cabs waiting at the end of the night, renting hotel rooms, or hiring a designated driver service.

A Designated Driver service is probably the best thing you could do for your guests.  Pairs of drivers are available at the venue, when the guest is ready to go home, one driver drives the guest/s home in the guests' car, while the other driver follows in another car and then brings the designated driver back to the wedding to take the next guests home.  I love it!

I did a quick Google search and there are "Designated Driver services" in just about every town and city.  If there is not one available, hire some College kids to do it (just make sure they are insured to drive other people's vehicles.)

Make a safe drive home part of the planning process, so all of your memories of your wedding are good ones.

Sneak Peek of Feature in The Wedding Planner GTA Magazine

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

In September we participated in a Photoshoot Extravaganza with the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada at Paletta Mansion located in Burlington, ON, right on the shores of Lake Ontario.  

Photo Source: Burlington.ca

The idea of the event was to create two similiar wedding set-ups; one exclusively for a magazine shoot with one couple and some specal elements; the other, for Wedding Planners to pose for headshots and working shots, with another couple and different elements.  

When working a wedding, wedding planners are usually so busy we can't stop to take a great pic, or we don't want to, because we look like we've been working our tails off for hours ;)  So this is a great opportunity that WPIC sets up for its members.  

Unfortunately, I was working for 5 hours on my set-ups before I got to take any shots, but oh well, Phat Dog Visuals and Richard Emmanuel Studios still captured some photos of me that I am thrilled with. For example:

Photo by Richard Emmanuel Studios

I chose to produce an outdoor wedding ceremony.  The inspiration shoot I did for the magazine had an awesome feature which I will save for when the winter edition of Bride & Groom Canada comes out.

Here are pics of the feature in The Wedding Planner GTA, which will be available in Indigo Stores on December 15, 2013:

People who contributed to this shoot:

Styling and Coordination: Danielle of The Wedding Planners

Partner: The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada

Decor and Flowers: Craig of Designing Trendz/DT Florals

Photography: Rohan of Phat Dog Visuals

Venue: Paletta Mansion

Models: Kasia and Richard Kovacs

Bride's Attire: She's So Beautiful 

Groom's Attire: Andrew's Formals

Bride's hair and Makeup: BlushPretty

Wedding Cake: SweeterE

Favours: Kate Aspen

Stationery: The Wedding Planners

Fondant-haters Rejoice: Naked Wedding Cakes

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

Scour Pinterest for wedding cakes and you are sure to come across this new trend in weddings: Naked Cakes.

Source: rosesandlace.co.uk

When I first saw these naked cakes hit the scene, I wasn't a fan, I love the whole cake as art thing.  What I quickly realized though, is that the beauty is in the simplicity of these cakes.

Source: Momofu Milk Bar

As you can plainly see, these cakes have a great icing to cake ratio and for those who haven't acquired the taste for fondant, there is no need to peel any layers off. ;)

Source: BakerMama

Would you have a "Naked Wedding Cake"?