City and Dale is a local lifestyle blog devoted to delighting in what’s new, hot and undiscovered in the capital region – from fashion and style to tasty eats and local happenings. We were thrilled when editor Kendall Barber contacted us to be their wedding expert for a new series: The Edmonton Wedding Guide. The guide is chock-full of fabulous local vendors, unique venue ideas, and tips to help you along the way. Follow the links below to view the full posts and be sure to keep City and Dale on your list of regular reads.

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(1) Unique Edmonton Venue Ideas

• If you have a lot of out-of-town guests attending ensure there are hotel options nearby or be prepared to provide transportation for your travelling guests.
• Is having a rockin’ party one of your wedding priorities? If so, don’t forget to ask about noise restrictions and closing time.
• June through September is an extremely busy time for weddings in Canada and especially in Alberta where our warm weather is short-lived. If you are set on a summer date be prepared to begin planning at least 12 months in advance.

(2) Gowns, Baubles & Shoes

• Before trying on wedding dresses, do your hair and makeup as though you are going out for a nice dinner or a night on the town. It’ll give you a better idea of what the gown will look like on your big day.
• Your dress should complement your wedding location, season and style. Share these important details with your bridal consultant so he or she can help guide you towards choices that will work best.
• Break up your shopping trips – visit no more than two boutiques in a day. You don’t want to become overwhelmed or get confused. 

(3) Cakes, Flowers & Stationery

• When it comes to dessert, there’s no need to play it safe! Be bold and have some fun with your wedding cake’s design. This is a great area to incorporate your personalities and shared interests.
• If you’re on a tight budget, instead of cutting back on all flowers focus your floral funds on a few important areas: your bouquet, the head table, and a statement piece at the reception. These items will be in many photos throughout the day.
• Your invitations set the tone for your wedding’s style and level of formality. Ensure the design, typeface and wording reflect just that.

(4) Photographers – Who to Snap Your Big Day

• When choosing your professional wedding photographer make sure you see an entire wedding that they’ve shot. It’s also important that your personalities are compatible – you’ll be spending a lot of time with them on your wedding day!
• Allow enough time for your photos. Most photographers want at least 2 hours (3-4 is even better). Your wedding planner or coordinator will help ensure your wedding day schedule can accommodate this important photo time.
• Have an engagement session with your photographer. This is like a practice session for your wedding and will help you feel more comfortable when the big day arrives.

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner + Designer

This morning I was back on CTV Edmonton – this time, discussing considerations and tips for planning destination weddings. Many people have the impression that destination weddings are easier and less stressful than planning a wedding at home, but that’s not always the case. There are a lot more unknowns and many things to consider when going away for your wedding. Click the link below to view the segment:

Edmonton Destination Wedding Planning Tips

Pender Island, B.C., Canada

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Los Cabos, Mexico

Los Cabos, Mexico

If you’re going away for your wedding – whether it’s to the mountains, a beautiful vineyard or a sandy beach – contact us, we’d love to help!

Jennifer
Destination Wedding Planner + Designer

Photo Credits: C.J. Scott Photography, Kelsy Nielson Photographer, PHOTOPHILCRO, PHOTOPHILCRO.

More couples get engaged between December and February than any other time of the year! I recently appeared on CTV Edmonton’s Morning Live Show to discuss some top wedding planning tips for the newly engaged. Click the link below to view the segment:

Edmonton Wedding Planning Tips

Stay tuned to the blog over the coming weeks as we’ll be sharing more great tips to help get your wedding planning off on the right foot!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

We’re excited to be featured in the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of Weddingbells Magazine! It’s on stands now so go grab your copy (and flip to page 393)!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

When I first began working with Jaclyn + Curtis we explored the idea of a Rocky Mountain wedding…and then a local Edmonton wedding…but nothing was really getting them excited. When the idea of a wedding on the beach entered the picture, everything began falling into place.

Ninety guests joined Jaclyn + Curtis at the RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas in Los Cabos, Mexico to celebrate in the sand and sun. The couple kept their guests informed about travel and wedding details via a custom wedding website and travel arrangements were managed by My Dream Destination Travel.

Photographer Phil Crozier of PHOTOPHILCRO joined us on the beach from Calgary, Alberta. Not only is Phil an unbelievably talented photographer, but he has a wonderful way about him that makes you feel like an old friend. Here’s a sampling of some of the GORGEOUS images Phil captured of this beautiful couple.

{Jaclyn + Curtis’ Los Cabos destination wedding was recently featured in the Autumn/Winter 2011 issue of Blush Magazine! View the complete issue online here.}

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Jaclyn wore Eresma by San Patrick from Novelle Bridal. Her stunning hand-tied bouquet was composed of ivory and pink roses and calla lilies.

The ceremony was held at the RIU Palace’s San Jose Gazebo overlooking the glistening blue ocean. At the start of the ceremony the officiant spoke in Spanish for a good three minutes until Curtis finally leaned over and asked, “hablas inglés?” Turns out it was a joke and he continued the ceremony in perfect English. Needless to say it made for a very memorable ceremony!

After the ceremony, guests made their way over to the gorgeous pool side Baja Norte terrace with a stunning view of the signature Los Cabos landmark, El Arco. Local cuisine featured delicious entrées such as coconut chicken, fresh salmon with grapefruit butter, roasted lamb and seafood paella.

Jaclyn and Curtis wanted their décor to be simple yet elegant. Walnut chiavari chairs perfectly complemented custom-made ivory shantung linens, while each place setting was accented with a chocolate brown wicker charger plate and an ivory gift box containing Mexican sweets. Low, lush arrangements of ivory and pink blooms added the perfect amount of colour to each table. (Rentals were sourced locally from Linens, Things and More; flowers by Floreria Treboles.) The wedding invitations and reception stationery, designed by I Do Invitations, were elegantly handcrafted with twine and starfish detailing.

One of the perks of a destination wedding is having more opportunities to capture fantastic photos without having to rush to do it all on one day. Photographer Phil Crozier took Jaclyn and Curtis for a post-wedding shoot and he captured some amazing, romantic images!

By choosing to have a destination wedding, Jaclyn and Curtis were able to enjoy ten days of quality time with their friends and family over dinners, pool lounging and exciting excursions. Jaclyn + Curtis: Thank you for trusting me with such an important part of your lives. It was an absolute pleasure to share this experience with you and your loved ones!

Jennifer
Destination Wedding Planner

I recently wrote an article for Edmonton Show Home Magazine about what to consider when holding a backyard wedding or event. As the summer season is upon us, I thought it would be a perfect time to share these tips.

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You’re engaged, you have a gorgeous new home, and getting married in your own backyard sounds like the perfect way to celebrate! A backyard wedding is personal and intimate, but it’s not without challenges. There are several factors to consider before forging ahead.

Backyard Basics:

• A large, empty lawn can be deceiving – involve an expert to evaluate your space. Once you add tables, chairs and a dance floor you may be surprised with your yard’s capacity and viability for an event.
• Music, microphones, heaters, fans and lighting – weddings require power! Does your yard have sufficient access to electricity or will you need to rent a generator?
• Consider parking limitations in your area. Will there be enough space for all your guests to park? You may wish to hire parking attendants to assist with this on your wedding day.
• Research any special permits you will require to hold a private event at your residence and purchase sufficient liability insurance.

You’ve done the leg work and your beautiful backyard looks like it will be the perfect space for your soirée. What’s next?

• Hire help. You want to enjoy your wedding day so let others handle decorating, bartending, catering, serving and clean-up. Hiring professionals will allow you to avoid placing this burden on family and friends.
• Where are the washrooms? If you don’t like the idea of guests coming in and out of your home to use the washrooms consider renting portable toilets.
• Have a ‘Plan B’. Weather in Alberta is unpredictable – be prepared for the worst case scenario. Rent extra tents in case of rain, heaters for chilly evenings and fans to help cool down a hot day.
• Be a good neighbour. If neighbours aren’t invited but may be affected by your wedding (more traffic/cars parked on the street, noise late into the evening) it’s courteous to let them know you’re hosting a big event.
• Consider guest comfort. Use your wedding invitations to inform guests that they will be attending an outdoor wedding so they can prepare accordingly. Having sunscreen, fans, bug repellent, lap blankets and umbrellas on hand will make you the ideal host.

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You can pick up your own complimentary copy of Edmonton Show Home Magazine in the red Media Classified boxes throughout Edmonton.

Happy Planning!

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 been a busy month! In addition to helping three amazing couples get married this October, I had the privilege of working with an all-star team of vendors to design a stylized shoot…which, to our excitement, is featured on Style Me Pretty today!

Jenelle Gartner (owner of PinkPolka Wedding Design) and I had been itching to work together on a shoot for a while, and when the fabulous Radelle from Eternal Reflections Photography mentioned she wanted to do a shoot in the fall, we met for lattes and got started! Bringing Janine and James from La Piazza Dasee on board was the obvious next step – the florals and rustic table details are exquisite! Visit the Style Me Pretty feature here to see the stunning images and read about how it all came together.

Millions of thanks to the talented vendors who contributed to the shoot!

• Event Design and Styling: Jennifer Bergman Weddings and PinkPolka Wedding Design
• Photography: Radelle from Eternal Reflections Photography
• Floral Design: La Piazza Dasee
• Stationary Design: PinkPolka Wedding Design
• Chairs & Dinnerware: Special Event Rentals
• Models: Jill Billingsley and Levi McIsaac
• Hair / Makeup: Perugia Salon & Spa
• Bride’s Gown: YBF2
• Bride’s Shoes: Taxi
• Bride’s Ring: Georgie Designs
• Clutch: Bella Fiore
• “Love” Hanger: The Painted House and More
• Groom’s Suit: Vintage Ralph Lauren
• Custom Made Tie: Tie Obsessed
• “Edmonton” Cufflinks: Arete

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Hope you like it as much as we do!

Jennifer