It’s always exciting to produce an event in a new venue, so we were thrilled when Jeanine and Daniel decided to hold their modern wedding reception at Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel. Open since Spring 2014, Renaissance YEG is a refreshingly contemporary spot to throw a party. We love their metal tabletops and sleek white styling.

Jeanine + Daniel held their ceremony at Dan’s childhood church – Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sherwood Park.  The wedding party had ample time to take photos in the afternoon before heading to the Renaissance to freshen up for the reception.

With a large guest list, mixing table designs – including rounds, squares and rectangles – added interest to the ballroom. Site 6 constructed a unique geometric backdrop matching the stationery design that Pinkpolka had created for Jeanine + Daniel’s invitations. An all-white dessert table featured tooth cookies since they’re both dentists and met in dental school!

Daniel and his groomsmen surprised Jeanine with a dance performance at the reception! It was to a mash-up of songs including boy band hits by Backstreet Boys and Bruno Mars – they did an incredible job and are clearly missing their calling in the entertainment industry.

Integra Films was on hand to capture the performance – check out the video here – and below is a sampling of gorgeous photos by Nicole Ashley.

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

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Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Nicole Ashley Photography
• Videographer: Integra Films
• Reception Music: Premiere DJs by Urban Metropolis
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
• Florist: faBLOOMosity
• Cake + Sweet Table: The Art of Cake
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals + River City Events
• Lighting + Backdrop: Site 6 Events
• Transportation: Baseline Limo Bus
• Hair + Makeup: Behind the Blush
• Gown: Delica Bridal
• Bridesmaids Gowns: Delica Bridal

*Sponsored Post*

Let’s face it, other than your vows, your guests are one of the most important things about your wedding. Your wonderful friends and family will be descending from multiple corners of the world, often taking time off from work to ensure that they can be with you on your special day. While you and your soon-to-be are the stars of the show, wedding favours are a great way to make your guests feel appreciated for their presence and support.

Sweet Treats: Edible favours are guaranteed to please your wedding guests. You can make these gifts yourself, or go out and buy them, then portion them into small sizes which are easy to package or wrap up and decorate with personalized packaging. Consider mini chocolate bars, cake pops, cookies or candies.

Get Crafty: DIY wedding favours can be inexpensive, and add a personal handmade touch to make your guests feel welcome. Some of our favourite ideas? Homemade jellies or chutneys, hangover care packages, s’mores kits or origami.

{Photo: Diamondcake}

Practical Wedding Favours: Wedding favour gifts don’t have to be cute or decorative – they can also be really useful. Are you planning a beach wedding? Consider giving your guests a hand-held fan to keep themselves cool on the big day. Other ideas include personalized water bottles or luggage tags for destination weddings.

{Photo: Kelsy Nielson}

On A Shoestring? No Problem! It’s easy to provide meaningful wedding favour gifts, even if you are on a tight budget. Here are some ideas for you:

• Chocolate coated strawberries served upon arrival
• Mini buckets filled with popcorn for each table
• Disposable cameras
• Hand written thank you notes that double as escort cards

Thematic Wedding Favour Ideas: Why not enhance your theme with your wedding favours?

• Seaside theme: anchor bottle openers or nautical tissue packs
• Winter theme: hot chocolate or chapsticks with customized winter designs
• Spring theme: mini potted plants or seeds your guests can plant in their gardens

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By Hollie Jones. Hollie is a freelance writer and co-writer for the Hollie and the Ivy blog. She is passionate about upcycling, interior design, crafts and weddings. Hollie enjoys writing about these topics and spreading her knowledge and experience to others.

Chris + Terry were such a dream to work with! They were so easygoing throughout the whole planning process and trusted us to give them the wedding they both desired: a celebration with their loved ones full of great food, plenty of wine and nonstop dancing. Above all, they are so in love it makes your heart melt being in a room with them. You can genuinely feel their connection.

The ceremony and reception were held back-to-back at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, making it easy for guests to attend. The evening was full of delicious cuisine, cocktails and cigars, along with some thoughtful toasts. Then the Wedding Crashers band took over and the dance floor was full all night!

Images by Frost was on hand to capture these beautiful images of their day. Enjoy this peek into Chris + Terry’s love story.

Chris + Terry: Thank you for trusting us with such a special time in your lives. Cheers!

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

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Credits:

• Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Images by Frost
  
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Wedding Design
• Florals: faBLOOMosity
  
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals
• Ceremony Music: Terry McDade
• Reception Music: Wedding Crashers Band
• Hair/Makeup: Jenn Chivers
  
• Bridal Gown: Vera Wang

Today we welcome a guest blogger – Christine Meadows – to share her thoughts on Hashtagging your wedding! Christine is the Early News Producer at Global Edmonton. Follow Christine on Twitter @CMeadowsGlobal.

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It’s 2013. Let’s face it…phones will be out at your wedding and pictures will be posted almost instantly to the World Wide Web. If you are okay with the idea, it’s time to give your guests and your big day a hashtag!

Instagram, Twitter, and now Facebook use hashtags. It’s the # symbol before a relevant keyword or phrase with no spaces. When a guest goes to post a photo he or she will include the hashtag. It creates a searchable category that essentially tags your photo by whatever catchphrase you used. Just like that a virtual album is born.

How To Successfully #YourWedding:

• Choose a unique and memorable hashtag:  If your hashtag is too simple or too generic, there is a good chance it will already be used.  For example, #SmithWedding may not be the best choice but #SmithsSayIDo2013 could be unique to your wedding.
• Search your hashtag: To find out your hashtag is already in use, simply do a search on Instagram.
• Spread the word: Share your hashtag with your guests in the wedding invitation, on a sign at the wedding or through word-of-mouth.
• Enlist a few friends to get the ball (and your hashtag) rolling: Guests will be more inclined to post if they see others already doing it!

It was not too long ago that disposable cameras were left on tables for guests to capture photos of the party. This is just an evolution of that trend. The hashtag is also a great perk for those who can’t make it to your wedding. They can follow along and witness the day unfold over social media. You can also screen grab or collect the images later and make a photobook. #YourWedding doesn’t replace a professional photographer – it’s just a bonus from a different viewpoint.

I wish I could have had #ChristineAndSteveGetHitched back in 2009, when I said “I Do”. Many of our guests came armed with cameras snapping photos, getting great angles and frame worthy candids. The majority, we’ve never seen. Nearly four years later those photos are likely sitting lost on a memory card or even worse, in a virtual trash can.

Now, if you tremble at the thought of a snap of you in your dress on Instagram before the ink on your marriage certificate even dries – a hashtag isn’t for you. What you need is a smartphone ban and someone to enforce it.

Happy Hashtagging and Happy Wedding!

Photo Credits: Left, Top, Bottom.

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Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

As with your wedding planner / coordinator, it’s so important to have a good connection with the professional photographer that you hire to capture those special moments on your wedding day.

Meet Sharon Litchfield. Not only is she a super sweet person, she takes some pretty sweet photos! We’ve worked with Sharon on some gorgeous events and we’re looking forward to collaborating more this upcoming wedding season. Read on to learn more about Sharon, why she became a photographer and her favourite part of the wedding day.

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Quick give us your best Tweetography (tell us about yourself in 140 characters or less)!

I’m Sharon! I’m the face behind Sharon Litchfield Photography. Other than taking too many photos and scouting the next great location, I also love coffee dates and indulging in all things pretty. I’m really just your typical girl.

Why did you become a photographer?

I’ll be honest, photography was never something I thought would interest me, until I saw my own wedding photos. I was surprised that my favourite photos were the ones that captured us when we weren’t looking at the camera, with perfect smiles, and just being ourselves. I was instantly inspired and attracted to creating something that evokes so much emotion. Since then, photography has become a creative outlet for me. I feel so lucky to actually be able to do this for a living.

Who have been the biggest influences in your life (photographers or otherwise)?

I know this sounds cliché, but the biggest influence in my life is my husband, Jeff. He has unwavering faith in me and is always encouraging and supportive of everything I do. Without him (and his gentle nagging), I would never have accomplished half the things I have today.

How would you describe your photography style?

I don’t think I really have a specific style. I am inspired by my couples and their personalities really infuse the style of their photos. Some couples love the posed editorial fashion style, while others prefer something more natural and photojournalistic. Most of the time, we’ll find the sweet spot and we’ll play.

Do you have a favourite part of the wedding day that you love to shoot?

My favourite part of a wedding to shoot is the bride’s “Getting Ready.” Being a lover of all things pretty, sparkly, soft and delicate, the getting ready part is heaven to me. Starting off the day with something so beautiful and serene really helps set the tone for me for the rest of the day.

What are some wedding day photography tips that couples should keep in mind?

• Pick a photographer who shares your vision. When you commit to a photographer, be sure that you absolutely love what they do, and not what you would like them to do. While it is your day and the photographer is dedicated to capturing your day, it’s also important to not expect that they will be able to recreate existing shots.
• Allot enough time for photography because you never know the roadblocks along the way, and be realistic of how many locations you want to visit. Sometimes, you realize on the day, there isn’t enough time so you should really strive for the locations that mean the most to you and not try to get TOO creative.
• Finally, don’t be afraid to be free and express everything that you’re feeling. The best shots are from the ones where you’re relaxed and letting your guard down in front of the camera.

Here’s a beautiful sampling of images Sharon has captured of our clients and their weddings:

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Visit Sharon’s blog and Facebook page for more gorgeous wedding eye-candy!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner + Designer

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