2011 started off in style with a gorgeous winter wedding in Canmore, Alberta. Lauren + Neal had a strong vision for their big day: a grey and yellow palette with vintage-inspired details, tons of candlelight to create a warm, intimate ambiance and many unique, personalized touches to reflect their relationship. From welcome packages to shuttle service and a post-wedding brunch, making their guests feel at home in the Rockies was also a priority to this fun-loving couple.

Oh and speaking of fun, after a night of amazing tunes spun by Banff Entertainment, guests made their way to an after-party to continue celebrating! Special thanks to Victoria for assisting throughout the day.

Here are a few of the lovely images captured by Julie Williams Photography – be sure to check out Julie’s blog for more gorgeousness!

Lauren’s scrumptious, hand-tied bouquet by Willow Haven Flower Shop featured a mix of yellow roses, ranunculus, craspedia, tulips and narcissus.

Lauren worked with Studio Jellyfish to design her spectacular hand-painted wedding shoes! Lauren + Neal road-tripped all around Canada and the United States together and these shoes feature some of the amazing adventures they shared. I absolutely love this personal detail!

Lauren + Neal chose to do photos before their ceremony and were able to relax and have a blast with their stylish bridal party. Lauren wore an incredible dress that she had revamped into her own custom creation. As you can see, she was an absolutely stunning bride!

The ceremony was held at the Miners’ Union Hall in Canmore. The historic hall fit perfectly with Lauren + Neal’s vintage wedding theme. Featured above is their ceremony program which, along with their invitations and reception stationery, was designed by Box Paper Scissors in Calgary. Glowing candlelight lined the aisle along with an heirloom family carpet.

After the ceremony, guests gathered at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club for the reception. The setting was intimate and warm with a breathtaking view of the snow-covered golf course. Charcoal grey taffeta linens were accented with yellow ribbon table runners (rentals provided by Get Married in Banff). The tablescapes featured glass milk jugs with craspedia, ranunculus and tulips, while an abundance of floating candles in mason jars gave the room a gorgeous glow.

To personalize their reception, Lauren + Neal named tables after places they had travelled to (many from their North American road trip adventure) and included tips pertaining to each locale. Fittingly, guests wrote their best wishes and advice for the newlyweds on vintage postcards and dropped them into a charming old suitcase.

Doughnuts instead of wedding cake? Why not!

Lauren + Neal: What a beautiful start to your new life together! Wishing you many more amazing adventures together for years to come.

Jennifer
Canmore 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

Tip #8: Consider wedding day logistics.

Logistics are the most important consideration for making your wedding day flow seamlessly without any major hiccups. Unfortunately, this is one area that many brides just don’t spend enough time thinking about.

Your wedding is probably the biggest party you will ever host and you’re likely spending a significant amount of money on the event. It only makes sense to hire an experienced professional to oversee it. Most wedding planners offer some form of Wedding Day Management – often referred to as wedding day or wedding month coordination. Having a professional step in 4-8 weeks before your wedding is extremely beneficial – not only for the sanity of you and your fiancé, but it is also a wonderful gift to your parents and bridal party.

If you’re skeptical about whether you need a coordinator, ask yourself who is going to do the following on your wedding day:

• 

  Sarah of Jennifer Bergman Weddings assists a beautiful bride as she's about to walk down the aisle

• Locate your V.I.P.s and pin on their boutonnieres / corsages
• Cue the wedding party processionals
• Hand tissue to your father before he walks you down the aisle
• Glue your false lashes back on if they come loose
• Fix your bustle if it breaks
• Light all the candles in the room before guests enter
• Cue your grand entrance into the reception
• Liaise with the venue for food and bar service
• Ensure your cards and gifts are put in a safe place once the reception begins
• Brief the M.C. before the wedding to ensure he or she knows what’s required of them
• Orchestrate the bouquet / garter toss, cake cutting, etc.

The above items are just a few examples of how a coordinator works behind the scenes to manage the details of your wedding day while you soak in every wonderful moment.

Check back Friday to read our last wedding planning tip and to enter our lucky + in love contest!

Jennifer

Photo Credit: Shandro Photo.

Tip #7: Be consistent.

It’s easy to get distracted by all the wedding ideas out there. Between bridal fairs, magazines and countless blogs it can certainly become overwhelming, but the key to a well designed event is consistency. Once you’ve taken the time to determine your wedding style, theme and atmosphere – don’t deviate! From the style of your dress to the centrepieces and the linens on the table, the visual components of your wedding should tie together nicely and reflect a similar look and feeling.

One of the easiest ways to ensure a cohesive event is through your wedding stationary. The wedding invitations speak volumes about what kind of event your guests can expect to attend, so it’s important to ensure this first impression truly reflects your wedding style. The level of formality will be communicated through the type of papers, fonts and wording that you use, as well as your venue selections. It’s wise to carry the design of your wedding invitations through to all other wedding stationary, such as ceremony programs, table numbers, menu cards, favour tags – even your guestbook.

Here’s an example of one of our couples’ weddings:

• Wedding Theme: “Urban Glamour”
• Wedding Style: Modern, edgy, Hollywood glitz + glamour
• Wedding Colours: Black, white and turquoise
• Details: White phalaenopsis orchids, damask linens, crystal and feather centrepieces

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Have you heard about our lucky + in love contest? We are giving away FREE planning consultations to three couples! The entry form will be available this Friday, so keep checking back for your chance to win!

Jennifer

Photo Credit: JDS Photography.