Laura + Jeff were married back in July on what has historically been Edmonton’s hottest weekend of the year. Instead, Mother Nature decided to give us a day filled with a bit of everything (no snow, thankfully)! This didn’t phase Laura + Jeff one bit – these two lovebirds had been waiting to tie the knot for years and they enjoyed every minute of their special day!.

The ceremony was held at the meticulously manicured Hastings Lake Gardens just east of Sherwood Park. Right before the ceremony was about to begin, there was a quick rain shower which then cleared in time for Laura to walk down the aisle with her father.

After the ceremony guests headed over to Rutherford Room at Edmonton’s Sutton Place Hotel for cocktails, dinner and dancing. As always, JDS Photography did a fantastic job of capturing the day. {Special thanks to Shannon for assisting!}

Enjoy!

Laura wore a gorgeously romantic gown by Paloma Blanca (Style 4116) from Pure Bridal. She accessorized with bright purple heels and a beaded flower accent in her hair.

Laura + Jeff decided to personalize their wedding with a “he/she” theme. They included the reasons why they love one another on their invitations and on these canvases which were displayed at their reception and will make modern artwork in their new home together. I encourage you to take the time to read them in full – they are just the sweetest things and you can truly feel the love and friendship these two share!

The theme was also carried through to their delicious cake and cupcakes from Whimsical Cake Studio.

An elementary school teacher, Laura had her students draw pictures of her and Jeff and included them on the backs of each table number. For favours, Laura + Jeff designed mini photo books which featured pictures of them throughout their relationship. These unique and personal touches made their wedding truly memorable for their friends and family.

Laura + Jeff: thank you for including us in this very special day! I’m positive that your love will continue to grow and flourish for the rest of your lives.

Jennifer + Team
Edmonton Wedding Planner

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Vendor Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photographer: JDS Photography
• Décor Rentals: Arlene Yam Décor
• Florist: Jenna Hudson
• Invitations + Canvases: Pinkpolka Wedding Design
• Cake + Cupcakes: Whimsical Cake Studio
• DJ: Revolution Entertainment
• Limousine: Esquire Limousine
• Hair: L Hair Studio
• Makeup: Daniela Ventura

Looking good on your wedding day isn’t enough for most brides – you want to drop jaws and knock the socks off your groom’s feet as he sees you for the first time, right!? Well, to get jaw-droppingly glam on your big day look no further than Anita Gill Makeup Artistry. Anita is an über-talented makeup artist in Edmonton and I have had the pleasure of working with her on several weddings over the past couple of years. Check out what this makeup maven has to say about makeup tips and trends for your big day.

Who’s the lady behind the (makeup) brush?

I have been in the makeup industry for almost 6 years now. I started my makeup career off at MAC Cosmetics and worked there for just under 5 years. It wasn’t until early last year that I decided to move away from MAC and further pursue being a freelance makeup artist – and I can honestly say that that was one of the best decisions I have ever made. In addition to being a makeup artist, I am also just finishing up my last year in the B.Comm program at Grant MacEwan University. People often ask me why I am a Business and Human Resources student if I want to continue on with makeup. The simple answer is because I one day hope to turn this freelance business into a full makeup and hair studio.

Why did you become a makeup artist?

Originally I was interested in makeup simply because both of my sisters, Sunita Sumaru and Susan Gill, are makeup artists. I think naturally I just wanted to follow in their footsteps, but over the years I’ve discovered that it was more than that. I soon realized that my job was more than just doing makeup; it included making women look and feel their best. Knowing that I have the ability to make a woman feel super glamorous is the best feeling in the world. The reactions I get from women after doing their makeup is what makes this job so amazing to me.

What’s your favourite part about your job?

There are two things that I truly love about being a makeup artist: The first is that I am able to use my creativity to make a woman look and feel beautiful. The second is that I get to meet some of the most amazing people; this includes both people that I do makeup for, along with vendors that I have met within the wedding industry.

What are your top tips for brides when considering their bridal makeup?

• First and foremost, it is nice to go into your makeup trial with some inspiration. So even if you just have a picture from a magazine or from a website, bring it with you because it will help communicate what your vision is for your wedding day makeup.
• Keep in mind that makeup always looks a lot softer in pictures than it does in person, so do not be afraid to go a little darker/brighter for your bridal makeup. Having that bit of added depth in your eye shadow and a stronger cheek contour can really make all the difference in your pictures.
• Make sure you get your eyebrows done before the big day. I can’t even begin to describe how much makeup artists appreciate a good, clean brow.
• Lastly, say yes to the false lashes! Even if you choose the most natural lashes, they will still make a huge difference. In my opinion, no makeup is complete without liner and lashes!

What bridal makeup trends are you seeing for 2012?

When I first started doing makeup the bridal makeup trend really seemed to be natural, classy, soft neutrals and mauve. However, this trend is completely changing. The up and coming trends are definitely more of a soft smoky eye with nude pink lips and pink cheeks, and the second trend would be a neutral eye lid, with heavy liner and thick lashes, with a more bronzed cheek and neutral lip.

When should brides book their bridal makeup artist?

Be sure to book your makeup artist well in advance. A lot of people assume that makeup artists can be booked a month or two before the wedding date, but this can leave you super disappointed. Try to book at least 6 months in advance – it is surprising how quickly vendors book up these days! Also, book your trial closer to your wedding day (within two months of the wedding day), even if your wedding day is a year away. I say this because when brides get their trial done too far in advance, by the time the wedding comes around, their style has changed and they decide to change the way they want their makeup. In my experience, brides who have a trial too far in advance always end up getting a second trial done closer to the date. Many brides question this by asking, “Well I don’t want to wait until a month before the wedding, because what if I hate my trial and choose to go with a different makeup artist?” My answer to this is simple – that is why it is important to look around for a makeup artist, to check out their work, and to ensure that they are reputable in the makeup and wedding industry. If all this is done, then you should not worry and just trust that you are in good hands for your wedding day!

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Here are some of the stunning JBW brides and bridesmaids who have been beautified by Anita Gill Makeup Artistry:

Thanks for the wonderful information, Anita!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

Photo Credits (from top to bottom): Carey Nash Photography, Katch Studios, Sharon Litchfield Photography.

We’re excited to share a gorgeous June 2011 wedding that was recently featured in the Weddings in Alberta Inspiration Room.

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Melissa + Mike’s wedding day began at Convocation Hall – one of Edmonton’s most historic venues. Following the ceremony, the wedding party took photos in Edmonton’s downtown core before heading to a gorgeous reception in the Quartz Ballroom at Matrix Hotel. This sports-loving couple wanted their wedding to be classic and chic with a touch of vintage flair. We opted for a black and ivory palette with accents of olive green and copper. The result was stunning and timeless!

Melissa owns a dance studio called Dance Discovery located in South Edmonton, and at the reception some of her students performed a special routine that they had choreographed. It was a fantastic performance and it was very obvious that Melissa’s students love and admire her.

JDS Photography was on hand all day to capture priceless memories for Melissa + Mike, and they rounded out the evening with a fun-loving photo booth which is always a huge crowd pleaser!

 {Special thanks to Jessica for assisting throughout the day!}

The gorgeous couple – newlyweds!

Guests arrived to a warm, ambient ballroom accented with amber lighting and copper drapery. Black chiavari chairs made a bold statement against crisp ivory pintuck linens, while olive green napkins wrapped with a pretty satin copper ribbon added just a touch of colour to the tables in muted vintage tones. Round flower pomanders featuring a mix of ivory blooms and sahara roses sat atop tall black lacquer eiffel vases.

Melissa + Mike’s invitations and reception stationery, designed by Pinkpolka Wedding Design, featured modern typeface and a bold graphic. Melissa added black lace to ivory votive candles which perfectly complemented the stationery design.

The gorgeous three-tier cake was created by Deb from Bee-Bell Bakery and featured detailed scroll-work, black ribbon and a monogram of the couple’s first initials.

Congratulations, Melissa + Mike! I hope you enjoy this look back at your beautiful wedding day. All the best in the future!

Jennifer + Team
Edmonton Wedding Planner

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Vendor Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photographer: JDS Photography
• Décor Rentals: Special Event Rentals
• Drapery + Lighting: QSD Event Services
• Mink Lashes: LilyMink
• Invitations + Stationery: Pinkpolka Wedding Design
• Cake: Bee-Bell Bakery
• DJ: Revolution Entertainment
• Limousine: Esquire Limousine
• Hair Lace Wigs: Addwigs
• Makeup: MiMi Makeup

Everyone wants to hear from the bride + groom on their special day. Take this time to express gratitude to all the people who contributed to your wedding – whether through emotional or financial support.

I can’t stress how important it is to prepare your speech ahead of time – don’t leave it to the last minute! Simply jotting down a few notes will help ensure you don’t forget anyone in the heat of the moment. Here is a guideline for consideration:

• Thank guests for coming
• Special thanks to out-of-town guests, especially those who have travelled a long way
• Make mention of special people who could not be at the wedding or who have passed away
• Minister / officiant
• Venue / venue manager / chef / serving staff
• Wedding vendors, such as the photographer, musicians, etc.
• Ushers
• Ceremony readers / candle lighters
• Guestbook attendants
• Emcee(s)
• Friends or family members who have helped with wedding preparations (eg. aunt made cake, cousins helped assemble invitations)
• Wedding party: bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl(s), ring bearer(s)
• Parents
• Thank each other

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting an amazing new resort in the Okanagan, located just 15 minutes from downtown Vernon, British Columbia. After perusing their website I couldn’t wait to experience Sparkling Hill Resort and check out their wedding facilities. First of all, over 3.5 million Swarovski crystals are infused into this modern oasis…3.5 million!? They’re not lying. Crystals, sparkle and bling abound in this place. From the welcome sign to the washrooms, every single nook and cranny shines.

From the moment you first arrive you can feel your tension lifting and relaxation setting in. The resort has a European flair and KurSpa (Kur means healing in German) is nothing like I have experienced before. Complimentary with your stay you receive access to the 7 unique aromatherapy sauna and steam rooms, an indoor pool complete with underwater music and starry Swarovski crystal sky, and an outdoor infinity pool overlooking the Okanagan. This would be the perfect wedding destination for the couple who wants to give their guests a weekend to unwind and rejuvenate.

Guests looking for a unique experience can try KurSpa’s signature health treatment – the cold sauna. Popular in Europe and the first of its kind in North America, the cold sauna provides a treatment called cryotherapy, which involves spending up to three minutes in a room set at -110°C. Yes, you read correctly. -110°C! Spending the maximum amount of time (3 minutes) in the chamber will allow your skin temperature to drop to 5°C, which helps alleviate pain and assist with inflammation, among other benefits. For me being cold is tortuous so I opted out, but my husband tried it and enjoyed the experience!

Enjoy a peek at Sparkling Hill’s amenities below and continue reading for more information on weddings at this gorgeous resort.

Lakeview rooms feature a unique “tub-for-two” with this incredible view and a Swarovski crystal “starry sky” ceiling overhead.

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Weddings at Sparkling Hill Resort

Sparkling Hill Resort boasts an astonishing view of Lake Okanagan! The Terrace, pictured below, seats up to 120 guests. For your reception, choose from an intimate dinner for up to 35 guests in Gernot’s private room or host up to 180 guests in the grand Austria Ballroom. The Fireside Lounge is the perfect spot for cocktails or for an intimate ceremony with your closest friends and family.

Sparkling Hill Resort Terrace

Sparkling Hill Resort Terrace

Gernot's Private Room at Sparkling Hill Resort

Austria Ballroom at Sparkling Hill Resort

Fireside Lounge at Sparkling Hill Resort

Lobby at Sparkling Hill Resort

If you’re interested in having your destination wedding at Sparkling Hill Resort or in the Okanagan area, contact us today!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner / Okanagan Wedding Planner

Photo Credits: Jennifer Bergman Weddings, Sparkling Hill Resort, Ema Peter Photography.

Earlier this summer we had the pleasure of designing and coordinating two events to celebrate Aanchal + Rajat’s marriage. I hope to share some gorgeous photos with you soon but for now here’s something new that we had fun experimenting with. We setup a time lapse camera at Edmonton’s Oasis Conference Centre to capture some of  what goes on behind the scenes to prepare for an event. The video also captures the entire ceremony, so if you’ve never been to an East Indian wedding this is a must-see!

The speedy teams in the video include Jennifer Bergman Weddings, QSD Event Services, La Piazza Dasee and the Oasis staff. Décor from Elegant Touches and Special Event Rentals helped complete the gorgeous design of the event.

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

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.