Stay Cool

If you’re having any portion of the wedding outside, consider renting fans or portable air conditioning units. Even if you live for the hot, hot heat, chances are your Great Aunt Trixie, Grandpa Ted and newborn Baby Joey can’t. Make sure there is shade available, to. If you choose an indoor venue, ensure it has the same cooling options.

Creative Centre Pieces

If the reception is outdoors, consider making a little basket filled with summer basics. Cheap sunglasses, fans, a small container of sunscreen and a citronella candle will be far more appreciated than tiny trinkets. Even a few baby pools filled with cool water for dipping your feet will be loved by all – young and old.

Dress the Part

Think summer when it comes to dressing up yourself, your party and your venue. Think picnic and BBQ themes, summer casual and natural decoration. Fruit baskets, torches and lanterns and large umbrellas will complete the look.

When thinking of dresses and suits, think again. Linen pants and crisp shirts for the groom, a beautiful white or cream sundress for the bride, and the wedding party in bright, consistent colours. Show some leg, done some flip flops, and simple will meet elegant while you’re keeping cool.

weddingdecoratorblog.com

Summer Flavour

Summer doesn’t really coincide with prime rib, roasted potatoes, heavy soups and starchy sides. Instead, think in season and local. Refreshing ingredients will keep your guests satisfied and feeling good, long into the night. Try grilled salmon, chicken and tempeh, serve a chilled gazpacho or corn chowder, serve strawberry shortcakes and an ice cream bar for dessert, and have loads of fresh salads, fruit trays and dips.

Cool Down Bar

Having an open bar is nice, but they guests will appreciate it even more if it’s stocked full of ice cold water at their disposal. Whether you can afford free alcohol for your guests, ensure that water is available for them. Even better? Offer some lemonade, iced tea, and fun treats, like iced pops and freezies.

Write it right away

Don’t put off the card sending. In fact, the sooner you do it, the better. You’ll have it out of the way and off your mind, and your guests will appreciate your promptness.

Keep track

With so much going on, it’s easy to forget who gave you what. Have a written record of everything you receive. As soon as you receive it, take the few minutes to jot down who sent it to you. Save time and energy by setting it up on Excel. Include names, addresses, if you’ve received an RSVP for the wedding, the gift, and if you sent a card.

Split it up

Get your groom, sit down, and divvy up the work. Sending out 100 Thank You cards is far less daunting than 200.

Custom Wedding Invitations and Thank-Yous from elizabethandjane.ca

Can the Creativity

This isn’t a time necessary to be super personal. A nice message of thanks does the job nicely, with a few more words thrown in for close friends and family. Unless your guests tend to gossip, they won’t be sharing their cards with one another. Take advantage and reuse some key phrases.

Don’t Email

This is one time where hand-written cards trump, hands down.

Not sure what to say? Check out some ideas here.

Step away from the silk and harness changes in wedding fashion. Being an eco-bride is becoming increasingly common. But if your local bridal shop doesn’t carry these conscious creations several eco-couture bridal designers have online stores that’ll help bring you closer to your dress of your dreams.

Originally published as Green gowns for your big day from ecoki.com.

Conscious Clothing uses sustainable and biodegradable hemp fabrics. They’ve been developing hemp clothing since 1995, and gowns since 1999. Their gowns start at a comfortable $700. They also feature hemp suits for men (at $1,200), bridesmaids wear (at $175+), and flower girl dresses ($275). (getconscious.com)

Deborah Lindquist is one of LA’s favourites, with her creations flowing on the svelte bodies of many stars, including Gwen Stefani, Demi Moore, and Paris Hilton. She combines repurposed fabrics with sustainable choices in her designs, developing her own kind of conscious clothing. Her pieces start modestly priced ($300 to $3000), often in separates to fit any size, and available at many bridal shops throughout the US. (deborahlindquist.com)

Tara Lynn has been designing  hemp gowns since 1999. Made of 100% hemp, or hemp/cotton and hemp/silk blends, and custom tailors them for you. She ships internationally, and mails your fittings to get pinned by a seamstress in order to get the job most efficiently done. She also makes suits, shirts, and pants for the groom. Contact for pricing. (taralynnstudio.com)

Chris Kole introduced his line The Cotton Bride in 2007, a couture bridal collection focusing on cotton and linen combined with other natural fabrics. Each hand-sewn gown is adorned with accents of beadwork and trim, merging simplicity with grace and style. Contact for pricing.
(chriskole.com and thecottonbride.com)

Threadhead Creations have been beautifying brides since 1999, with natural fibres such as hemp, bamboo, peace silk and organic cotton. They offer three choices – those who to prefer to buy off-the-rack, those who opt to design their own dressed based on a blanket Threadhead creation, or those who would like to work closely with the creators for a custom option. Off-the-rack choices range from $700 to $1295, design your dress begins at an easy $545, and custom dresses start at $1000. Some of the most eclectic and cost-efficient choices are available at this green dress guru. (threadheadcreations.com)

Morgan Boszilkov’s Natural Bridal Colllection hasn’t been around as long as some of the others, but her products are right up to speed. “Handcrafted with love”, each dress uses sustainable fabrics combined with an elegance that doesn’t sacrifice style. Some of the dresses include a detachable bottom skirt, perfect for the reception or wants to reuse the pieces for a later outfit. 5% of all profits are donated to eco-causes. Hemp, organic cotton, peace silk, and bamboo are among the materials used to develop her line.  Contact for pricing. (naturalbridals.com)

Annatarian is run by designer Anna  Mkhitarian, who develops products that are better for the environment, preserve the artisan craft, and strive for eco-effectiveness. Designed from vintage and remnant fabrics, along with others such as bamboo, organic cotton, peace silk, she combines  reduce, reuse, recycle in a one-of-a-kind dress. She  also can incorporate your own items – for example, your mother’s mother’s mother’s tiara, to develop the dress and accessories of your dreams. (annatarian.com)

If you live in the UK, try Wholly Jo’s. Designer Joanne uses organic, fair-trade, and recycled materials to deliver her dresses. Created from organic cotton, hemp, and peace silk, Joanne also ensures that ethical practices are in place, such as not copying other designer’s creations. Dresses range from £500-£550. (wholly-jo.co.uk)

Simple, sustainable, and by far the most cost-efficient is Rawganique’s Eco-Couture hemp dresses and suits. The whole wedding party can be outfitted with their line of hemp and linen designed clothing  The hemp is organic and fair-trade, and start at $329 for suits and $349 for dresses. Footwear and accessories are also available, combining materials such as hemp and flax, and are also 100% vegan. (rawganique.com)

After the wedding – when you’re stress-free and starting a new life together – is the perfect time to sit down with others and spend time with friends and family that have come to visit from farther destinations.

The answer? Plan a post-wedding brunch for your close friends and family.

Who to invite?

Plan this one for those who are closest to you, most importantly, your immediately family and wedding party. The rule – as there is always one involved, is that the wedding party and immediate family should come, and numbers should be kept to a minimum. It’s also generous to invite those who traveled longer distances to come to the wedding, as a note of appreciation.

When to have it?

Unless you’re leaving right after the reception for your honeymoon, plan for the follow day in the morning (or, if you were enjoying the party a little late, afternoon).

Why have one?

Getting together for brunch is a great way to relax without having to worry about good-byes at the reception. You can also get the nitty-gritty on your wedding, for when you were too busy for taking care of everything and enjoying your first moments as a married couple.

Who should host it?

The bride and groom, or discuss it with a friend or relative earlier on. Minimally, have it near the location so for those who are visiting out of town, they are within easy walking/driving distance. A private home delivers that personal, homey-touch, or a low-key restaurant. Regardless, casual is the key.

What to eat?

All popular brunch items are easy to prepare or pick up from a local pastry shop or farmer’s market. Classic egg dishes, such as quiches and frittatas and comfort favourites, like a Belgian waffle bar. Making it a little more elegant with fruit-filled pastries and eggs Benedict. Keep it simple with freshly cut fruit, oven roasted potato hash browns… They’re all winners and the possibilities are endless. You can even add a little whimsy with a few boxes of favourite cereal (especially if there are picky children in tow), or add elegance with a sit down menu in courses.

Stay tuned to our blog for menu ideas and recipes to come!

Here’s what you need:

iWedding Deluxe

This app includes features such as customizable to-do lists, planners, budget trackers, guest lists, invitation status trackers, gift ideas, inspriation and more. Organized like a binder, it gives you fast access to all of your needs.

BRIDES Dressing Room

This app includes an incredible selection of wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses, hundreds right at your fingertips. It makes searching for your dream dress that much easier. You can save your favorites, share with friends and find a retailer near you, and you have access to a message center and notification feature keep you up-to-date on events in your area.

iBridalGown

When you’re looking for that perfect dress, simply enter all the details of your goal – style, fabric, price, location, et cetera. You’ll have it all at your fingertips, ready for comparison or, more importantly, input from your best girl friends. It also let’s you take and organize pictures of your favourites.

The Knot

Take your favourite wedding site with you! Use it to post your wedding questions and instantly get answers from other brides-to-be, or spend time scrolling through 150+ top wedding Q&As and get expert answers from The Knot editors.

Etsy Addict

Who doesn’t love Etsy, the crafty/vintage driven sell site? The app allows you to browse the Etsy website, giving you the advantage to snag exactly what you’re looking for when it is available.

Go Surfing

If you live in the road-trip vicinity, this is a great choice – especially if you’ve never tried it. Rent some wetsuits and boards, and arrange a group lesson. Check out surfingvancouverisland.com for ideas, tips and destinations.

Try Paragliding and Hand Gliding

Contact one of these paragliding and hand gliding schools around BC to ask about their rates for private groups. You can’t beat the view, adrenaline and fun as you soar through the air. Have questions? Check out the West Coast Soaring Club’s forum before you go.

Battle the Bungee

The ultimate adventure? A free fall at Whistler Bungee, British Columbia’s highest and most pristine bungee jumping site. Take the craziest plunge of jumping from a 160ft  bridge spanning 300 ft over the Cheakamus river .

Opt for White-Water Rafting

White-water rafting is the perfect activity and REO Rafting has 28 years experience to make it the best for you and your group. Plan a three day getaway or an afternoon trip. And while you’re there? Try out some rope rapelling, hiking, and other activities.

Settle on Scuba Diving

Swimming with the sharks on your list of things to do? Check out dive.bc.ca with every bit of info about diving in beautiful British Columbia. Not sure where to go? We recommend going on a getaway and staying on site at one of the resorts that offer diving.

The wedding itself is a jumble of events, all in one. Bridal parties, showers, taste testing, the ceremony and the reception – and often, this is just a portion of it. From tracking guest lists, to choose music, flowers, and caterers, to maintaining essential details, it can definitely be a lot of work.

For most of us, a wedding planner isn’t financially feasible, so when we heard about a virtual varation, we wanted to share it with you.

Like for most things in life, Google has the answer, with an addendum to their popular Docs program with over 20 wedding templates available in the Google Docs template gallery. From tracking your budget to organizing invites to keeping track of vendors, it helps keep you on top of all of the details.

Like with other Google Docs, you can easily share your documents, spreadsheets, forms and information with your anyone who is helping you out. And because you can use your smartphone to access them, you never have to worry about email attachments and updates because your data is consistently present at your fingertips.

Google has also teamed up with StyleMePretty.com, a popular wedding website to offer tips and assistance in your wedding planning.

Whether you’re brainstorming What to Ask a Wedding Photographer, saving recipes for favours (like truffles!), planning your trip around the Vancouver area, or looking for Local Companies in Victoria, it can help keep track of all of your wedding needs!
To learn more about simplifying wedding planning with Google Docs and Style Me Pretty, visit docs.google.com/wedding.

Black and bold

Step away from whites and pastels. This year, stick with the only white as your wedding dress, then top it off with black accents and bright colours. Flowers, dresses, accessories and adornments will produce a vibrant background against simple blacks and whites.

Eco-friendly weddings

Keep it sustainable by choosing to be planet friendly. From vintage wedding dressed to recycled invitations, we’re going a little greener for our big days. Read more in our post Eco-friendly Wedding Ideas.

Rethink your venue

Along with saving the environment, think about saving a little more in your bank account. Consider having a backyard wedding, either at your own home, a family member or friends, or even a local park or beach. Rustic, casual and money conscious, it’s a private, intimate way to really bring the ceremony home.

Feel good food

Yes, we all love salmon with reduced potato emulsion atop crisp shallot croutons with a side of green bean slivers with almond redux. But really, wouldn’t you rather just have some pizza and macaroni and cheese? More weddings are choosing casual buffets over pricey sit downs, and even opting for making their own menu. You can even easily make your own Coconut Cream Wedding Cupcakes.

Coconut Cream Cupcakes

You’ll need:

1 cup butter, softened
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
3 cups granulated sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups coconut flakes

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin tins with liners and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese and butter. Add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.

Mix in eggs one at a time, then add in extracts. Beat in flour and baking powder, mixing until just blended. Stir in coconut and spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for five minutes in pan, then invert onto cooling racks to cool completely.

for the icing:

1 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/2 cup water
8 cups sifted icing sugar

In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your mixer), blend together shortening, salt, extracts, water, and 4 cups icing sugar for 10 minutes. Add the rest of the sugar and beat until well mixed.

The spectacular scenery is one that cannot be surpassed; Vancouver is surrounded by water, nestled upon mountains, and dotted with celebrated architecture. The mild climate makes it perfect for year-round visiting for tourists, as well as optimal livability for locals.

With a population of 578,000, the city covers 114.7 sq km (44.3 sq miles), and is part of Metro Vancouver, the third largest metropolitan area in Canada.  Vancouver and has won many awards for its ingenuity and leadership that occurs across the city, the most recent being attributed to the 2010 Olympic games.

Vancouver combines a cosmopolitan city with a world class resort-like atmosphere. With an abundance of golf courses situated among the mountains and rolling greens, celebrated ski resorts, and noteworthy arts and theatre, there is something to appeal to everyone.

For those who enjoy the outdoors, the hiking and walking trails are second to none. Among them is Stanley Park, one of North America’s largest urban parks. Over 1,000 acres in size, Stanley Park is home to an aquarium, children’s farmyard, and 33 kilometres (22 miles) of hiking and walking trails. Also nestled with the park are cycling paths, tennis courts, Indian Totem Poles and a scenic drive.

Other popular destinations include Queen Elizabeth Park, which is home to an amazing  360 degree view of Vancouver and beautiful arboretum. Also among them is the VanDusen Botanical Garden, which contains thousands upon thousands of beautiful and rare flowers and plants. Hastings Park, too, is highlighted for its marsh sanctuary and Italian formal garden. The Bloedel Conservatory is a large collection of tropical plants and flowers, with free-flying exotic birds.

The lively downtown core offers every amenity you can imagine, from restaurants to clubs to parks  and more. World-class entertainment, such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and beloved sporting events, like our Vancouver Canucks, lets you plan your stay based on your favourite things to do.

More of the outdoorsy-type? There is a plethora of hiking and mountain biking available in the spring and summer seasons, and skiing at the popular Whistler-Blackcomb resort in winter.

The numerous parklands, attractions and mix of fun and relaxation is what makes it stand out as a top wedding destination in Canada.

Read more about getting married in Vancouver by visiting:

• Weddings West
• Vancouver Park Board
• Vancouver Wedding Place

Image courtesy of stayandtour.ca