Everyone knows that a DJ can make or break a party, so finding the right DJ for your wedding is a very important task that requires careful consideration. Premiere DJs is a modern, hip Edmonton DJ service that promises an unforgettable dance experience. I sat down with co-owner Harman B to chat about weddings, music and how to throw a great party!

Tell us about Premiere DJs.

Premiere DJ’s is Edmonton’s best boutique DJ service! Managed by Harman B & DJ Kwake, Premiere DJs will match you with the best DJ for your wedding.

What makes Premiere DJs different? How do you provide a distinct wedding experience?

A Premiere DJ wedding experience is intimate, interactive and modern. It is a custom sound tailored to the clients’ needs, desires and tastes. We are professional, experienced & talented; we mix live on turntables (records) and we have the best digital sound system and offer modern and elegant lighting too! We consult with our clients in advance and tailor their program to their guests, the venue, the time of the year, etc. We also help our clients consider their floorplan and the energy flow in the room.

Who are the right brides and grooms for your service?

Our couples are hip, modern and outgoing who love to travel, eat out, dance and care about giving their guests an experience they will not forget.

What do you love about DJ-ing weddings?

We love the challenge to please an entire array of guests at a wedding – from Grandma to your farmer Uncle, to ethnic-fusion weddings to groomsmen from Fort McMurray! We work hard to find a common ground and get EVERYONE rocking at the same party.

What is the most unique wedding or wedding component you’ve seen?

We like when couples evolve with the times and try something different, such as having no head table, shortened programs, sweet and simple speeches, etc. These elements showcase the evolution of weddings and are appealing to modern brides and grooms.

What is your top tip for brides and grooms to consider when planning their reception / dance music?

• I would highly suggest for couples to avoid stopping their dance during the night for announcements – keep the party going!
• Position the bar close to the dance floor.
• Don’t spread your guests out amongst the room; the more intimate the space the better the energy flows.

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Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

Constance + Mike were married in Edmonton on December 30, 2010 – my last wedding of the year. These two are perfect for one another! They are both incredibly kind and genuine people, and always put others’ needs before their own.

Constance works in museums so when we began designing their big day it quickly became clear that a Vintage Art Deco Wedding would be a perfect fit. Constance and Mike also wanted to incorporate a few cultural traditions from their family heritages. Greek Jordan Almonds were given to guests in mirrored favour boxes and Ukrainian bread called korovai was displayed at the reception.

Julie and David of JDS Photography were on hand to capture this beautiful winter wedding day. A sampling of the gorgeous images are below:

Constance’s vintage-inspired bouquet by Coral’s Design was composed of antique hydrangea, Picasso calla lilies, Amnesia and Sahara roses, stephanotis, eyelash feathers and green hypericum berries. An ornate silver tussy mussy was used as a bouquet holder to complete the vintage look.

Mike looked dapper in his 3-piece charcoal grey suit!

The ceremony, held at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, was my first Orthodox wedding and I really enjoyed the traditions and symbolism that were incorporated throughout the service. Special thanks to Crystal for assisting at the ceremony!

Constance took my breath away! From her tan fur stole to the finger waves in her hair, every detail of her ensemble worked perfectly with the vintage theme. The best detail of all – Constance had her mother’s gorgeous ivory lace wedding dress re-worked and it was absolutely stunning!

The art deco escort cards, table numbers, menus and signage were designed by Pinkpolka Wedding Design to coordinate perfectly with the camel and aubergine palette.

The reception was held at The Westin Edmonton. Prior to dinner, guests enjoyed cocktails and canapés to live music by cellist John Fedor. The tables were draped in camel satin linens and topped with aubergine runners and sage green napkins. ABC Weddings supplied all linens as well as the aubergine satin chair wraps.

The centrepieces alternated between tall silver crystal candelabras and clarinet vases with floating candles and Sahara roses (rentals supplied by Elegant Touches).

Constance and Mike decided to forgo a traditional wedding cake and instead they opted to share their favourite sweet treat with guests – doughnuts!

No Greek-Ukrainian wedding is complete without dancing (and lots of it)! Dan from Baseline D.J. kept the dance floor full all night long!

Thank you, Constance and Mike, for allowing me to share in your special day! It was a pleasure getting to know you and I know you will enjoy a wonderful life together.

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

Still searching for the perfect ensemble for your bridesmaids? A few months ago I blogged about

 Bridesmaid dresses – a gorgeous line of multifunctional dresses that can be worn 15 ways and don’t require alterations!

Edmonton brides, you’re in luck! Twobirds Bridesmaid is in town this weekend showcasing their versatile dresses at Matrix Hotel.

Edmonton Trunk Show
March 5+6, 2011
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Matrix Hotel Edmonton
10640 100 Avenue

More good news – if you place an order during the Trunk Show weekend you will receive $15 off any dress! To schedule an appointment contact danielle@twobirdsbridesmaid.com.

Happy shopping!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

It’s pretty darn cold this week in Edmonton, so in an attempt to remember warmer days this post features a summer wedding with sunshine and blue skies!

Danielle and Danny were married last July in Banff, Alberta. They moved to Edmonton from Québec a few years ago and decided that a destination wedding in the Rockies was the perfect way to show their family and friends their new backyard.

As guests landed at the Calgary airport they were ushered into limousines to enjoy the scenic drive to Banff in style. The ceremony was held at Tunnel Mountain Meadow adjacent to Buffalo Mountain Lodge. Tunnel Mountain has got to have one of the best views in Banff – it is absolutely stunning!  The reception followed with a delicious meal and entertainment provided by Rob from Class Act D.J. Service. Let me tell you something – the French know how to party!

Special thanks to Ewa for assisting throughout the day, and to Aisha and Trinity for helping with the ceremony setup.

Enjoy these lovely images captured by Perry Thompson Photography!

Silver chiavari chairs accented with lilac organza sashes from OneWest Event Rentals gave Tunnel Mountain Meadow an elegant alpine look. Deborah Nyack played the harp beautifully and Rev. George Belcher did a great job officiating the ceremony in both English and French!

Could you ask for a better ceremony backdrop!? Amazing.

The bridal party posing for photos with the historical Banff Springs Hotel in the photo background.

Danielle has gorgeous eyes!

Adorable flower girls! These two were super sweet and looked angelic with their dendrobium orchid hair wreaths.

I absolutely LOVE this photo. The expression on Danny’s face says it all.

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…and now on to the reception at Buffalo Mountain Lodge. This wedding is a testament for what lighting does for a room. Here’s the Wapiti Longhouse as it normally looks:

…and after!

The tables were set with plum satin linens, silver charger plates, crisp white napkins and hammered silver napkin rings (Elegant Touches and OneWest Event Rentals). The simple, elegant centrepieces (Elements Floral Design) featured white hydrangea and mauve roses in cube glass vases. The wedding invitations and reception stationary were designed and printed by The Paper Tree.

Danny was all about the wedding cake! He wanted a multi-level look and Barb from Cake Creations delivered. The round white cakes were draped with fondant and featured silver scroll details to match the stationary perfectly.  The clear acrylic stairways represent bridges which are an important part of Danny’s profession.

Danielle + Danny: It was such a pleasure to get to know you and to witness your love for one another. I look forward to keeping in touch and I wish you all the best as you begin this new chapter in your lives!

Jennifer

The guestbook is a great way to personalize your wedding. Rather than using a standard lined book, consider one of the following creative guestbook ideas:

Use your engagement photos to create a custom photobook that guests will sign at your wedding.
{Pinkpolka Wedding Design}

Guests could sign an item of significance to you and your fiancé, such as a wine/champagne bottle,
a sports or memorabilia item, a ceramic plate or serving dish, etc.
{Waseem Photography}

Setup a camcorder and have guests leave video messages which you can later
display on a digital picture frame or burn to keepsake DVDs.
{Vimeo}

Have guests sign a photo mat that you can later use to frame a wedding picture.
{Elegant Bridal Accessories}

Have guests write their best wishes on postcards from your wedding location –
these can be stored in a keepsake box or scrapbooked after the wedding.
{The Knot}

If you’re having a rustic-themed wedding, use large branches to create a wishing tree
where guests can hang their well wishes.
{JDS Photography}

A typewriter guestbook is an adorable idea for a vintage-style wedding!
{Ruffled Blog}

Your guests can really leave a mark with this thumbprint tree guestbook!
{Lydia & Pugs}

Personalized index cards are a unique way for your guests to share their words of wisdom and marriage advice.
{Martha Stewart Weddings}

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What are some other creative guestbook ideas that you’ve seen at weddings?

Jennifer

2011 is upon us and as many of you are knee-deep into wedding details I’d like to share what we’re seeing for wedding trends this year.

• Honeysuckle is Pantone’s colour of the year and it’s a versatile shade that works with many wedding styles. Pair it with blush and gold to create a romantic, whimsical look or combine with plum and slate for a bold, modern statement.
• You don’t have to be a master-crafter to add thoughtful do-it-yourself (DIY) items to your wedding. The paper napkin ring pictured below serves double duty as a placecard and adds a stylish, personal touch to table décor. Another fun project – gather your bridal party to help assemble welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.
• Ruffles and romance are all over the runway! Brides are straying from the classic white strapless gown and opting for ‘wow’ factor details.
• One-of-a-kind jewelry is a wonderful way to express your personal style on your wedding day. The earrings pictured below are hand-crafted by local Edmonton designer Cara Cotter (So Pretty Jewelry). Her designs are available online and at Coup Garment Boutique.
• From classic shades to metallics and bold colours, glam heels never go out of style!
• You’ll be holding your bouquet for most of your big day – make sure it’s nothing less than spectacular! A large, lush bouquet with carefully considered adornments is the perfect accessory to complete your bridal look.
• A signature Jennifer Lopez look, Hilary Duff ignited the high bun bridal hair trend with her vows to NHL star Mike Comrie last summer.
• Unique stationary is a great way to set your wedding apart. Chunky table numbers and creative save-the-dates are all the rage (check out the gorgeous coasters pictured below!). We’re also seeing a return to classic calligraphy and letterpress invitations.

2011 Wedding Trends Inspiration Board

What wedding trends, if any, are you including in your wedding plans?

Jennifer

Photo Credits (Clockwise L-R): DIY Paper Napkin Ring Placecard – Thoughtfully Simple; Handcrafted Pink Grapefruit Quartz Earrings – So Pretty; Gold Manolo Blahnik Shoes – Next Exit Photography; Hilary Duff High Bun – People; Save the Date Letterpress Coasters – Oh So Beautiful Paper; Bouquet – Luster Studios; Vera Wang Farrah Gown – Vera Wang.

Thanks to all you wonderful couples for entering our January lucky + in love contest. The lucky winners have been drawn! Congratulations to:

• Kendall + Ross
• Krista + Paul
• Kuo-hsien + Jeremy

Looking forward to meeting you soon for your FREE wedding planning consultations!

Jennifer

Tip #9: Don’t let wedding planning consume you!

The average length of an engagement is 16-18 months – that’s a long time! The last thing you want is to be miserable throughout what’s supposed to be a wonderful experience in your lives. Here are a few pointers to help you avoid bridal burnout:

1. Take a break. Do you really need to spend another five hours on your laptop Googling “pink bouquets?!” Make a point of taking breaks from wedding planning to enjoy time with your fiancé. Plan regular date nights and try to avoid talking about the wedding while you’re out. Think about what you used to do before wedding planning and revisit those hobbies and pastimes.
2. Ask for help. If you have too much on your plate don’t be afraid to delegate and ask for help! Ask your mother to manage the guest responses. If your fiancé loves vehicles, send him to look at limousines with his best man. Of course, enlisting the services of a wedding planner will save you the most time and stress!
3. Be mindful of your relationships. Throughout the planning process it’s understandable that you may feel overwhelmed at times – especially when the wedding date is fast-approaching. But remember what comes after the wedding…your relationship with your partner is the real reason you are having a wedding! Consider the strain of your wedding on your families and attendants and try to be reasonable with your requests.

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Thanks for reading our top 9 wedding planning tips! Our lucky + in love contest is now open! Here are the important details:

The prizes:

The three winning couples will receive their choice of one of the following packages:

• A complimentary She Said Yes! consultation session with Jennifer. This two-hour session will help you get your planning underway with vendor recommendations to match your wedding style and budget, a personalized planning checklist and budget worksheet, as well as the opportunity to discuss your questions and concerns {$250 value}.

…OR

• A complimentary two-hour Décor Consultation with Jennifer to discuss the theme and design of your wedding vision! Included in this session are creative design suggestions suited to your wedding vision, venue(s) and budget, plus vendor recommendations for rental and décor items to save you time and frustration {$350 value}.

How it works:

• Complete and submit the entry form before the contest deadline (January 28th) and you will be entered to win one of the three free consultation sessions!

The fine print:

• Contest entries will be accepted from January 21st to January 28th, 2011.
• Winners will receive their free consultation session in person in the Edmonton area or via phone / Internet if they reside elsewhere.
• This contest is not applicable to couples who are already working with another wedding planning company.
• Winners will be randomly drawn from all correctly completed contest entries received by the contest deadline: Friday, January 28, 2011 at 11:59 PM MST. The winning couples will be announced on Monday, January 31st, 2011.

Enter the Jennifer Bergman Weddings lucky + in love contest now!

Good luck!

Jennifer