On Friday we shared a glimpse at the design board that inspired Kristy + Joe’s romantic Italian wedding. After spending some time with these two lovebirds, it’s obvious why romance was an important theme for their wedding, but they also wanted to put a modern spin on the traditional. To bring their vision to life we paired bold punches of colour with romantic elements – such as soft fluffy blooms, drapery and luxe fabrics.

Not only was this couple a perfect match on the inside, but they looked great together too! Kristy wore a beautiful ballgown with lace detailing and a sweetheart neckline. Joe rocked the ‘Bond’ look in a custom white and black tuxedo – it was so sharp and classic!

After the ceremony at St. Albert Parish, the wedding party travelled to the University of Alberta to take photos with the super-talented Kelsy Nielson Photographer before making their way to the reception at Santa Maria Goretti Centre. A delicious five-course Italian meal, heartfelt toasts and an awesome dance party rounded out this incredible day. Enjoy the photos below and head over to Kelsy’s blog to see more of this wonderful wedding!

{Special thanks to Jessica for assisting!}

Here’s the B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L bride on her way to the ceremony in a vintage car – could she look any more perfect?! You’ll notice that her accessories and hair change throughout the day (love a bride who is all about the details)!

The bridesmaids wore flowing floor length chiffon gowns (Dessy 2832) in varying shades of pink, purple and red. The stunning bouquets by Laurel’s On Whyte were a gorgeous blend of peonies, freesia, dendrobium orchids, dahlias, leptospermum and dusty miller. This combination was once again a perfect interpretation of modern romance and the ladies looked amazing!

The hall at Santa Maria Goretti Centre was fully draped and lit by Karin and her team at Site 6. Drapery adds so much romance to a room – not to mention, it covers undesirable finishes! The lighting added a modern punch of colour in complementary shades of pink and purple.

The tables were dressed with lavender linens and silver chair wraps. Ruffled charger plates topped with plum napkins and mirrored napkin rings were finished with a “bow” effect to continue the romantic theme. Kristy + Joe sat at a cozy sweetheart table covered in a gorgeous pewter dahlia overlay from Elegant Touches.

A comfy lounge area was flanked by two lucite bars that served Kristy + Joe’s signature cocktail, the Eternitini. The incredible dessert table was a nod to Kristy’s French heritage and included a macaron tower and croquembouche by Cake Couture, as well as numerous French pastries and sweets made with love by Kristy’s mother. Silver vintage frames were suspended above the table for added interest.

Kristy + Joe: You two were so wonderful to work with and I loved being a part of your journey to the altar. Wishing you all of the best life has to offer!

Jennifer + Team
Edmonton Wedding Planner + Designer

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Credits:

• Wedding Design + Coordination: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photographer: Kelsy Nielson Photographer
  
• Videographer: Imago Cinematography
• Lighting + Drapery Design: Site 6 Events
• Rentals: Arlene Yam Decor, Special Event Rentals, Elegant Touches
• Flowers: Laurel’s On Whyte
  
• Cake: Cake Couture
  
• Ceremony Music: Lauren Busheikin
• Reception Music: MC Productions
• Bride’s Gown: Pronovias Planeta from The Bridal House
• Bride’s Makeup: Bella Mia
• Groom’s Tuxedo: Custom Made by Harry Rosen

A lot goes into the wedding design process at Jennifer Bergman Weddings. We begin by determining a bride and groom’s wedding style – the look they envision, the atmosphere and feelings they want their event to evoke, the level of formality, etc. We then create visual inspiration boards and detailed budgets. Once we’re all on the same page we execute, securing rental and décor items, collaborating with a florist to design centrepieces and bouquets, and working with a stationer to create the couple’s invitations and reception stationery to perfectly reflect their wedding style.

As we’re nearing the end of our 2012 wedding season, it’s so exciting (and rewarding) to see the professional photos from our clients’ events. Before showing you some of this season’s jaw-droppingly beautiful weddings, we’ll first share the design boards behind them so you can get a glimpse at how we take inspiration and make it reality.

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Kristy + Joe wanted a classic, romantic wedding with a modern twist…

Photo Credits (clockwise from L-R): charger plate – Pam Scott Photo; black and white dance floor – Belle The Magazine; bouquet – WedLuxe; centrepieces – Project Wedding; sweetheart table – WedLuxe; bride with bouquet – Project Wedding; macaron tower – WedLuxe.

…and here’s a sneak peek at their vision come to life!

Photo Credit: Kelsy Nielson Photographer.

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On Monday we’ll share the full blog post featuring Kristy + Joe’s wedding…stay tuned!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner + Designer

Fitness and health top the list of New Year’s Resolutions each year, and for brides and grooms tying the knot in 2012, it’s no different! Whether you want to lose a few pounds, gain strength and muscle mass, or run your first road race, Edmonton’s Pure Strength Fitness is here to ensure your resolution stays on track.

I spent some time with Owner and Bridal Fitness Coach, Carlie Paxton, chatting about Pure Strength Fitness and how they can help you achieve your fitness goals. When Carlie’s done with you the only rolls at your wedding will be the ones served with dinner!

Carlie Paxton, Pure Strength Fitness

Tell us about the muscle behind Pure Strength Fitness!

I am Carlie Paxton, the owner and Bridal Fitness Coach of Pure Strength Fitness. I love being active and developed an affinity for living a healthy lifestyle at a very young age. Growing up in a family of sports minded boys, I learned very quickly how to keep up so I could get in on all the action. After seven years of personal training and working for lululemon athletica (a company full of strong, empowered women), I decided to focus my efforts on women and their fitness needs. After attending my first Bridal Expo, I fell in love with the idea of working with Brides. The thought of helping women look and feel great on their special day was very appealing to me. And here I am now…

Pure Strength Fitness is a boutique fitness studio in the West Glenora area. We provide lifestyle coaching that will help clients improve their body, mind and spirit. We offer a wide range of training options that will fit your schedule, rates that will match your budget, and a training style tailored to your individual needs.

What kind of training does Pure Strength Fitness focus on / specialize in?

We specialize in lifestyle coaching for Brides – specifically, women who want to make changes in their life to help them look and feel great for their wedding. Pure Strength Fitness has built a community of women that support and encourage each other to prepare for their wedding day.

How long before their wedding should brides and/or grooms begin a fitness program?

Whether your wedding is next year or next month it is never too late. With Pure Strength Fitness not only will we help you look and feel great for your wedding, we will improve your quality of life and help you create happy, healthy habits that you can use throughout your lifetime.

Many couples are strapped for time. How can they incorporate a fitness program into their busy lives?

If you have a full hour to be active everyday, great – but use your time wisely. Instead of training for longer periods of time, focus your efforts on working harder for shorter periods of time. The key is to keep your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes a day. Make sure your training goals are realistic. The more realistic your goals are the more sustainable and enjoyable your workouts will be. Consistency is everything.

What are your top tips for pre-wedding health and fitness?

Nutrition Tips

• Never skip breakfast. Your body can go into starvation mode after 12 hours of not eating. If you go past a 12-hour period, your body starts to eat away at muscle tissue which then slows down your metabolism. A slow metabolism means unwanted weight gain.
• Watch your sodium intake. Not only is it bad for your kidneys and blood pressure, it makes your face and body retain water (so you look heavier in your wedding photos).
• Eliminate one carbonated beverage, one fruit juice or (god forbid) one Starbucks per day. This accounts for an average 1800 calories per week. At this rate in six weeks you can lose up to 3-4 pounds.

Fitness Tips

• Start today – stop putting it off.
• Add strength training into your fitness routine. Adding muscle will speed up your metabolism.
• Tell others of your physical goals. A little motivation and encouragement from those you love will help keep you on track.

Do you offer any special packages to brides and grooms-to-be?

I have packages available for Brides, Bride and Groom and Bridal Party. If you are looking to start a training program please contact me at info@purestrengthfitness.com. Don’t wait to start living. Live now!

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Here’s to a happy, healthy 2012!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

Jay + Joe are definitely one of our most memorable couples from 2011. It’s not every day that we receive a (legitimate!) wedding planning request from a couple living in Africa!

After meeting at the University of Alberta, Jay + Joe took advantage of an opportunity to move to Gabon, Africa for Joe’s job. They wanted to have a summer wedding in Edmonton to spend a weekend celebrating with their friends and family in Canada.

Jay + Joe chose to have their ceremony and reception at LUX Steakhouse + Bar in downtown Edmonton. With its chic, modern styling and a warm atmosphere, LUX was the perfect choice for this globe-trotting couple to spend an intimate evening catching up with their loved ones. Guests danced the night away to the musical talents of Lindsey Nagy and Jesse Peters, two local duelling pianists, and they munched on delicious late night snacks including Kobe beef sliders, mini hot dogs and sweet potato fries.

To our delight, this sophisticated soirée was recently featured on Style Me Pretty Canada! Here’s a sampling of the stunning images captured by Sharon Litchfield Photography – be sure to head over to the Style Me Pretty feature and gallery to see more gorgeousness!

On the morning of their wedding, Jay and Joe got ready at The Westin Edmonton before meeting up for a “first look” and photos with their wedding party and families. Jay wore a gorgeous fitted lace gown by Essense of Australia (D1108) in ivory from Pure Bridal and a pair of stunning silver Jimmy Choo’s!

In lieu of a traditional guest book Jay + Joe asked their friends and family to write them an anniversary card which they will open on the corresponding future year! Another very personal touch at the reception was a table of family wedding photos. It was lots of fun for everyone to see generations of marriages displayed at such a special occasion.

We complemented the dark wood accents in the space with a warm palette of chocolate, copper, ivory and black. Each tablescape was covered in candlelight and ivory blooms, including hydrangea, garden roses and dendrobium orchids.

Jay + Joe: Thank you so very much for trusting us to bring your wedding vision to life! It was truly a pleasure to work with you. No matter where life takes you next, I’m certain it will be filled with adventure!

Jennifer + Team
Edmonton Wedding Planner

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Vendor Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photographer: Sharon Litchfield Photography
• Officiant:  Thanx On Time (Joan Tkaczyk)
• Hair Wigs: addwigs
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals
• Florist: Laurel’s On Whyte
  
• Invitations + Stationery: Pinkpolka Wedding Design
• Entertainment: Lindsey Nagy + Jesse Peters
• Hair + Makeup: Eveline Charles

Looking for some wedding eye-candy to ooh and ahh over this weekend? Click the following links to view our past clients’ gorgeous weddings and get ready to be inspired!

Edmonton + Area Wedding Inspiration

Rocky Mountain + Destination Wedding Inspiration

Happy Planning!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner / Rocky Mountain Wedding Planner

Photo Credits (Top-Bottom): JDS Photography, Kelsy Nielson Photographer.

Edmonton is home to some great venues for weddings and events, but nothing is quite like the new Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA). Many of our clients are attracted to the versatility of this contemporary, urban space – it looks great with minimal décor or it can be completely transformed! I sat down with Elisa DeFazio, Director of Sales & Catering, to get the inside scoop on what makes the AGA an ideal venue for contemporary couples.

Tell us about Art Gallery of Alberta.

Opened in January 2010, the new Art Gallery of Alberta is an engaging and inviting visual arts centre in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. Celebrating its prominent location on Sir Winston Churchill Square, the city’s arts and government core, the building’s architectural design formally and philosophically extends out into the community, welcoming visitors of all ages and backgrounds to experience contemporary art firsthand.

Why is AGA a great wedding venue in Edmonton?

Visually, the building itself is spectacular. Today still, people will walk by and stop or drive by and slow down to look at the design. It truly is a masterpiece!

The diversity of the venue provides our clients with options for any style of function. Brides and grooms will use the theatre for their ceremony and move up to the main floor for their banquet dinner. Some couples choose to rent the entire gallery and have the exhibits open as part of their event program.

Each rentable area of the building offers special features, such as:

• Sophisticated adjustable lighting
• Contemporary furniture
• Drop-down digital projector and screen to display monograms or slideshows
• All tables, linens and small wares are included with the rental fee

Wedding setup in Manning Hall

What spaces does AGA have available to accommodate weddings?

Our banquet spaces are not like a traditional ballroom found in a hotel or conference centre.

• The Ernest C. Manning Hall and Atrium, located on the main floor of the gallery, is the largest and most commonly used space for weddings, with seating for up to 200 guests.
• The contemporary Ledcor Theatre on the lower level of the building can be used for a wedding ceremony of up to 167 guests.
• The Outdoor Sculpture Terrace is perfect for an intimate ceremony of 60 guests.
• The Borealis Room on the fourth floor is a beautifully enclosed glass space, great for small ceremonies or dinners of up to 30 guests.

Our rental package can be viewed online at: http://www.zincrestaurant.ca/events-catering.php.

Zinc Catering is the onsite provider of food and beverage at AGA. Tell us about their culinary offerings.

Our culinary team focuses on fresh Alberta ingredients fused with local artisan food products. When selecting food and beverage for their catered event, couples have a few options: a customized menu from Zinc Restaurant; a customized menu based on a current exhibition showcased at the AGA; a menu chosen from our Banquets Menu (online at www.zincrestaraunt.ca/events-catering). The same culinary team that showcases their talent in Zinc Restaurant (located at the AGA) is the team that provides the high-end presentation and service in our banquet setting. Our Executive Chef David Omar will meet with you one-on-one to help customize your menu providing his expertise, recommendations and creative flare.

Any tips for brides and groom searching for their perfect wedding venue?

Find a venue that compliments your style – whether contemporary or traditional. When venue shopping, bring along inspiration photos that appeal to you and ask the venue to provide you with pictures of other wedding setups so you can get an idea of how the room can be transformed. Ask a lot of questions, don’t settle and have fun!

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Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

Photo Credit: Katch Studios.

Crystal + Ian had a beautiful spring wedding in early May. At their reception, guests had a blast with Laugh Photobooth – an Edmonton photobooth rental company. I asked owners Kathy and Steven to share some more information about booking Laugh Photobooth for your own wedding reception.

The beautiful bride and I enjoying Laugh Photobooth

1. Quick – give us your best Tweetography!

Laugh Photobooth is sure to add some excitement to your Edmonton wedding. Guests will break the ice, socialize and leave with a printed photo strip to remember the evening forever!

2. Why is a photobooth a great addition to a wedding reception?

Not only is Laugh Photobooth tons of fun at your wedding reception, but it also provides you with a very memorable and unique guestbook. Every time guests use the photobooth it prints a duplicate copy of the photos – one for the guest to keep and one for the couple. Photos of your guests are placed in a book with their personalized messages to you! The book is put together and bound on the spot by an avid scrapbooker.

3. What are some of the extras that Laugh Photobooth provides?

We are always adding new items to the “Tickle Trunk” – a collection of fun props that guests love to use in their photos. As well, Laugh Photobooth is moving towards shorter bookings for those events that do not require the booth for four hours.

4. How far in advance should couples book Laugh Photobooth?

Couples interested in having Laugh Photobooth for their special day should book at least a year in advance to avoid disappointment.

5. What’s the most memorable photobooth experience you have had at a wedding?

We had a wedding with groomsmen who were oversized hockey players…they had the booth rocking trying to “raise their cups” for the camera!

6. What’s next for Laugh Photobooth?

Laugh Photobooth is embracing technology and will soon be moving to on-the-spot social media pictures!

For more information visit their website and ‘like’ their Facebook page. Thanks Kathy and Steven!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

Your wedding invitations and stationery should reflect the tone and level of formality of your event, but they should also reflect you: your style, your personalities and your relationship. After all, that’s what your guests are coming to celebrate!

I have the pleasure of working with Pinkpolka Wedding Design – Edmonton’s premiere wedding invitation and stationery boutique – for many of our clients’ events. Read on for owner Jenelle Gartner’s top tips when considering your wedding stationery.

Tell us about the stylish lady behind Pinkpolka Wedding Design!

I am Jenelle Gartner, the owner and designer of Pinkpolka Wedding Design. I have always been drawn to art and creating, so it was a natural progression that I chose a career in graphic design. I graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications and a minor in Business and Marketing. Before starting Pinkpolka Wedding Design, I worked as a designer for corporate design studios gaining invaluable experience in commercial design and production.

I chose to start a boutique design firm specializing in wedding invitations and stationery because I have a distinct style for pretty and cute design. I also enjoy working on such happy and joyous projects which have so many creative elements such as unique paper, shapes and textures along with creative finishes that have limitless possibilities.

What does Pinkpolka offer?

Pinkpolka Wedding Design is a boutique design studio specializing in wedding invitations and stationery. We offer couples stylish and unique stationery options to turn their wedding into a beautifully branded event. We have a large collection of “Off-the-Rack” designs which offer couples a more affordable option of choosing an existing design and simply changing the color. We also provide coordinating stationery to an invitation suite including products such as place cards, menus, seating charts, table numbers, guest books, banners, signage, dance floor decals and thank you cards.

What makes Pinkpolka different?

With a background in commercial design, Pinkpolka was created to offer a fresh perspective to Edmonton’s wedding stationery market. First and foremost Pinkpolka is a design studio – not a stationery store. We pride ourselves on providing creative, non-traditional solutions to wedding stationery. We are not crafters or hobbyists so we take our business seriously and want all our couples to have a polished and professionally designed invitation suite. Choosing Pinkpolka Wedding Design means you are getting the experience and expertise of a professionally trained graphic designer who can provide solutions to any custom project. Some of our projects require hand-assembly, but all of our invitations and stationery are professionally printed and produced using the highest quality supplies.

What’s your favourite part about the stationery design process?

I have two favourite parts of the design process. The first is seeing a couple’s reaction when I present the mock-up of an invitation design. The excitement and happiness clients exude is priceless and makes my job extremely fulfilling. Most clients don’t know what to expect with custom design and when they finally see a visual of the concept we discussed it is usually more than they could have imagined. Seeing these reactions truly makes my day!

My second favourite part of the process is packaging a completed reception stationery order. Our company mission statement is to “create beautifully branded events” and this part of the process embodies that statement. It makes me so happy to see a perfectly coordinated suite of stationery including such items as menus, place cards, signage, favour tags and thank you cards!

What are some exciting stationery trends you’re seeing for weddings?

• Simplicity: A common trend this year was to keep things simple. A lot of couples decided to use a phone and email RSVP, rather than a traditional mail-back insert. Many designs this year used a postcard style invitation with an extra “info card” insert. The info card works well to include RSVP information, a wedding website and any other travel or event related information. In many cases the cost was quite low so clients could invest in some extra details such as envelope liners, cigar bands and metallic stock.
• Bold Typography: Couples have been gravitating to bold uses of typography – both in modern and traditional designs. Using this typography treatment creates quite the statement and demands attention!
• Customization: This year I have had a high number of custom orders. Our “Off-the-Rack” collection includes more than 75 invitation designs, but the majority of clients this year have wanted an invitation created with their own vision and style rather than choosing an existing design.

What are your top tips for brides and grooms when considering their wedding stationery?

• Figure out your style. Not all stationery designers are created equally. Similar to wedding photographers, stationery designers all have distinct styles. Do your homework and look at a company’s portfolio section to see if they are the right fit for you. You might also want to check each vendor’s pricing to see which one falls within your budget.
• Have a clear idea of what you want to spend. It is easy to become overwhelmed by all the beautiful wedding invitation designs and ideas out there. When you begin adding ‘extras’ like metallic paper, envelope liners and cigar bands, price can increase quite quickly. Know what you are willing to spend and prioritize what you are willing to compromise. Most of the time I will build quotes based on a couple’s ideal invitation and from there optional pieces can be eliminated to bring down the budget.
• Infuse your personality into your wedding stationery. I believe it’s important for couples to be true to themselves throughout the entire process of planning a wedding, especially when it comes to their wedding stationery. Too often, couples have a strong preference to certain colours and styles of invitations but want to make sure they conform to conventions they believe are proper. Social standards have evolved greatly and it’s more common for wedding invitations to be creative and customized to reflect the couple’s personality.

The invitations featured above are custom Pinkpolka designs for some of our 2011 clients. Check out their online portfolio to view even more stunning stationery suites!

Thanks for sharing, Jenelle!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner