This coming weekend May 31st, 2008 I am pleased to announce the wedding of Jon & Ying to take place at Burnaby Mt. Golf Course.
I have had the honor of working with this couple through the planning process and can't wait to get in there on Saturday to start seeing everything come together.
Photo's available for veiwing under "Past client photos"
Let's start off with all the NEW things happening at
Moments by McKnight !
First bit'o'news:
I have been looking into purchasing some new items for wedding decor and special occasions in general. I thought it would be fun to have a few items that would be a nice addition to any special day and offer a rental price we can all be happy with. With that said I have purchased the following items available for rental 2008 !.
2 White Balustrades (banisters), 2 4ft cone pre-lit topiaries, 2 Large Urns, 3 pedestals, white ceiling swag, backdrop fabrics, misc table overlays. Look for photos to come along with rental rates.
Second bit'o'news:
CaNdY BuFFeT !! All you need to put on a lavish spread of your favorite candies, this sweet treat oasis offers your guests a chance to pick and choose the goodies they would like to take home. Everything is supplied for you, glassware, scoops, coordinating ribbons and accents to match your occasion ... I can even get you the candy if need be. How sweet it is ! Look for photos in the gallery of samples for your candy buffet
Third bit'o'news:
Gift packaging is here !
Today's weddings & occasions are celebrated with friends, family, good food & drink along with special touches that makes the event totally "you".
No longer is the old fashioned organza pouch filled with lavender or hershey kisses used as "give-away's". Today's packaging options has such a wide range of opportunities just waiting to be discovered and shown to the world. Adding your unique style, color and theme will pull all the elements of your special day together and "wow" your guests...and that's what we all want right?.
Moments by McKnight is proud to offer packaging services, this can include;
"Is that weird"?.
Sometimes Brides ask me questions they think I have never heard before, and it got me wondering if maybe I should "blog" about some of the repeat FAQ I get. I'll take the time to address a couple issues this time and see how things go.
Q.) "Is it normal to ask my bridesmaids to help out with the cost of the dress"?.
A.) Yes, why not. If you have a close enough relationship with your bridal party they will know whether or not the tab should be put on you or not but traditionally this WAS something the bride was supposed to pay for. Why?? Because if you wanted your best friend to be subjected to wear a seafoam green taffeta dress with puffy sleeves that she would never ever wear again...darn right your paying for it. lol These days brides are more then willing to accommodate their bridal party's budget, body structure and comfort. Most MOH or bridesmaids will be able to wear their dress to another function giving them multi use which is a win-win situation. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask or compromise on the costs implemented onto your bridal party but I don't think it's fair to make your friends foot out a large wad of cash for one day and a dress they may get no use from again either.
This can be carried over to the groomsmen as well, their tuxedos are rented so the cost to them has no return benefit.
*** One thing to think about BEFORE the people you have selected to be in your bridal party give you their reply is to mention the potential cost(s) to them or you. Don't shock them a month down the road with a long list of "to-do's" and that they should start saving money now. This is ONE day, costs should not overwhelm your bridal party so much that they regret saying yes to being in your wedding.
Q.) "Chair covers, do I really need them"?.
A.) Well, in some cases yes and others no. It's hard to say really because it's such a personal thing. Some venues have god awful looking chairs that does not allow you to incorporate your color into the room at all, by covering them you win.
Some venues have chairs that are not the worst on the planet, basic black and chrome you can never go wrong unless your accent colors are with gold. In this situation and to cut costs I would recommend not getting covers.
Chair covers really do finish a room, they say "Wedding" ! Once you see a table set with the chair covers verses without you know in your heart that you want to put the money out for the cover and sash to pull everything together and make it look right in your eyes.
As said before this is a trick question, it depends on the venue, chair, decor and the bride.
Q.) Cash bar or Toonie bar, Open bar or wine only??.
A.) For me this is a personal choice, open bar or toonie bar all the way. Unless you are from a very religious background, non-drinkers or have many children attending...every wedding should have a bar. To me a wedding is not a wedding without the family letting loose and having a couple of drinks to celebrate. Yes the factor of drinking and driving comes to mind but there are many taxi's available, you can assign designated drivers, rent a bus/limo , stay at a hotel and there is always "Operation red nose". Being smart enough to speak with your bartender about drink limitations, closing the bar during speeches and only allowing 2 drinks at one time to be purchased are some tips as well.
The cost factor. If this is the "Con" for you then maybe trying the toonie bar is a good option or simply having the location charge their own drink amounts. If you want your guests to have the chance to drink on their dime, then so be it. There are tradional ways of this and that for everything but I believe this comes down to what you and your family/friends lifestyles are. If you have a family that likes to drink, well you know you'll need to get searching for a bartender...if you have an event where it will be half and half..well look into the toonie bar or use two free drink tickets and after that guests purchase their own drinks.
Each situation calls for it's own set of rules, everyone is different so don't be pressured into thinking you have to have an open bar or that it's not proper ettiquette. Living in sin was not acceptable at one point either and most couples today defy this "Rule" but still maintain healthy relationships with family and friends...society.
Ah February, the month of "Love".
I wanted to start things off with something important in the wedding planning process and speaking of holiday celebrations it's a time to make note when they are around.
If you are getting married in the summer seasons and wish to have those lovely hue's of pink, minty green, yellow, purple / lilac...this is the time of the year to get out there shopping! Easter holds all those pastel colors that some bridal couples love to accent their wedding with. Even if you are choosing to continue the trend of Chocolate brown with another contrasting color, one of the colors mentioned above are striking with brown, black, ivory and even beige. Once Easter is over you can go out and purchase a few candle holders, napkins, boxes, baskets, ribbon, stickers, wreaths. This is the time to get a few table linens that are on SALE and have them for your accent tables, this will save you A.) Money & B.) offer opportunities. Buy them as large as possible so that they can be custom fitted to any table and or have the chance to use scraps for other accents.
Did you ever look at a table cloth and see something else, like the chance to use it as a swag on your cake table, a backdrop, a chair cover, cutting strips into ribbon or other? There is the chance to have great affordable, elegant & stylish weddings if you think outside the box.
Wedding planners are more then "Hired" help, we are creative people who naturally think outside of the box ALL the time. When we look at a candle holder we see more then just putting a tealight inside, we see a potential favor container, we see a mini vase for candies, we see the chance to put flowers inside for mini arrangements that could be set in a window sill, lined along your aisle runner, used as multi level centerpieces. W.P's ( Wedding Planners) have a passion for their job to create and to be unique and to offer their clients something that no one else has seen...or maybe that's me?
I know that when I have a new client, I am so eager to hear about their plans as a couple, joining two different families into one and how the couples personality is going to be represented on their wedding day. These days Brides especially want to be "different", they attended a half a dozen weddings with some sort of similar theme in all of them. The trick is to take those ideas, decor, items you do like and give it a kick of super cool.
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Candy Buffet...Yummy.
The last couple of years the candy buffet has skyrocketed for ultra cool wedding favors. What other wedding favor lights up the eyes of all your guests as they walk into the reception and scanning the room their eye's meet with the king of all sweet tooth lovers...a table full of sugar coated treats. Children and adults alike, love this new trend of help yourself second round buffet. Having a candy buffet at your wedding is easy to do, it's a trip to the local grocery store to the bulk aisle or a trip to Costco. You can personalize your "How sweet it is" table with complementary color schemes of your guest tables, ribbons, stickers, candy description cards, and take home packaging. Most commonly used are the "Peking" boxes.
These are also referred to as "Take-out" boxes you would receive from chinese restaurants. Some couples like to give cello bags or other favor packaging boxes and tins.
How could you go wrong with this choice, everyone can find something they like and they will remember just how enjoyable your wedding was every time they purchase that sweet treat in the future. So long Jordan Almonds in a box.
