Dessert tables have been a popular feature at wedding receptions over the past few years. This trend began with candy tables and has evolved to include a couple’s favourite sweets and desserts, such as doughnuts, cookies, cupcakes and pies. We’ve also done frozen yogurt and ice cream bars, custom chocolate truffle stations and popcorn displays!

Why do we love this trend?

• Sweet tables are a great way to personalize your reception, showcasing your tastes as a couple. Think out-of-the-box to your childhood favourites or desserts from your heritage.
• Use a dessert bar to reflect your reception design, adding an element of décor to the space.
• Rather than giving away individual guest favours, instead invest that budget in a fun dessert table that guests can enjoy all evening.

Here are some of our favourite sweet tables and dessert bars we’ve designed for JBW couples. Warning – do not view on an empty stomach!

 White + Pink Sweet Bar: Mariah + Nathan’s Wedding
{Shandro Photo}

Cookie Table: Stephanie + Clark’s Wedding
{C.J. Scott Photography}

Moonshine Doughnut Table: Anita + Ben’s Wedding
Katch Studios}

Homemade Pie Table: Alexis + Tom’s Wedding
{Blake Loates Photography}

Cupcake Table: Carly + Taylor’s Wedding
{Julie Williams Photography}

Cupcakes + Candy Table: Jenny + Hon’s Wedding
{Sharon Litchfield}

Cookies & Milk Table: Ashley + Dave’s Wedding
{Sharon Litchfield}

Dessert Table: Allena + Jamie’s Wedding
{Kelly Redinger}

Pink + Green Candy Table: Krista + Scott’s Wedding
{Sharon Litchfield}

Pink + Purple Candy Table: Sabrina + Fil’s Wedding
{Sharon Litchfield}

French Themed Sweet Table: Kristy + Joe’s Wedding
{Kelsy Nielson}

Purple + White Candy Table: Saveena + Rodnie’s Wedding
{Katch Studios}

Rustic Sweet Table: Violeta + Barry’s Wedding
{Kelly Redinger}

Black + White Dessert Table: Melanie + Chris’ Wedding
{Kelly Redinger}

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

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. Here are 5 important factors to consider when planning a destination wedding

1. YOUR GUESTS
Destination weddings ask a lot of your invitees: the cost of travel, of course, and depending on the location guests may have to take time off work to attend your nuptials. You’ll likely have friends or family who cannot attend or choose not to attend for various reasons. Be prepared for some loved ones to miss the occasion and don’t take it personally.

Tips:

• • Provide accommodation options at different price points to suit a range of budgets.

• Setup a wedding website to convey travel information to your guests to make it easier for them to attend.

2. PLANNING FROM AFAR
If you have “Type A” tendencies, a destination wedding may not be a good fit! Unless you’re able to travel to the location before the wedding to scope out venues and meet with vendors in person, you may find it difficult to make all your plans remotely, especially when cultural differences and language barriers come into play. In some destinations it can take weeks to receive email responses – not every bride has the patience to deal with that pace of planning.

Tips:

• Do your research! Search for real photos from travel review sites or destination wedding blogs to avoid unwelcome surprises.
• Engage the services of a Wedding Planner experienced with weddings in the area.

3. BON VOYAGE BUDGET
It is a common belief that destination weddings are much cheaper than celebrating at home, however tropical resort packages can be deceiving as they are often for a very small number of guests and do not include a private reception.

A weak Canadian dollar can affect affordability of destinations abroad, so why not consider a beautiful destination closer to home? Canada boasts incredible locations throughout the Rocky Mountains, Okanagan Valley and West Coast.

Tips:

• Look off-resort for great local venues that will give you more flexibility in customizing your wedding and choosing your suppliers.
• Some locations may offer better rates for weekday and/or low season weddings.

4. THE UNEXPECTED
Destination weddings are more likely to be affected by factors beyond your control. Examples include extreme weather, such as hurricanes, snow storms, floods and forest fires (we’ve had weddings affected by all of the above); health outbreaks like Swine Flu and most recently, Zika Virus; and foreign political unrest.

Tips:

• If you’re heading somewhere tropical, check when that area is most likely to experience severe storms – in other words, don’t have your wedding during hurricane season!
• Look into getting traveller’s insurance and wedding cancellation insurance.

5. MAKING IT LEGAL
Each country has their own legal requirements for marriages. Some countries mandate blood tests and may require that you’re in the country for a specified number of days before the wedding takes place. In Canada and the U.S. marriage licenses are issued by province / state, so be sure to check the particulars for your wedding location.

Tip: 

• Consider getting married legally at home shortly before or after your destination wedding, and have a symbolic ceremony abroad. This can look and feel exactly the same as a legal ceremony so your guests won’t know the difference – and you may save yourselves some headaches.

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As published in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Blush Magazine.

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

Destination weddings are a welcome break during our long Canadian winters. Earlier this year we had the honour of travelling to Jamaica with an intimate group of Cindy and Matt’s closest friends and family members.

We suggested holding the wedding festivities off-resort, as this is a great opportunity for guests to see a new part of the island. It also makes the wedding day feel more like a special experience when you travel to a different venue for the wedding day, rather than simply walking down to the beach of the resort.

The historic Rose Hall property was the perfect choice. The ceremony was held on the golf course near the water at Ocean’s Edge. It was a bit windy that day, so perhaps that’s why everyone’s eyes were watering – but more likely it was due to the incredible connection that Cindy and Matt share, which was evident from the moment they saw one another at the altar and pledged their lives to each other.

After the ceremony guests were transported a short distance up to the top of the Rose Hall property where the reception was held. Built in the 1770s, the famous Rose Hall Great House is a mansion in Jamaican Georgian style set high on the hillside with a panorama view over the coast. Cocktails took place under a 150 year-old ficus tree, and a beautiful clear-span tent housed the rest of the evening’s festivities, including a throwback video dance party!

See more of Cindy + Matt’s wedding in the Autumn/Winter 2016 issue of Blush Magazine, and do not miss their incredible highlight film by A Love Story – it’s such a great testament to why you should invest in a wedding video!

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Jamaica Wedding Planning + Design
Destination Wedding Planning + Design

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Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Retrospekt Design 
• Videography: A Love Story 
• Officiant: Rev. Egbert Harvey
• Ceremony + Reception Music: Jamaica Wedding DJ
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
• Florals: Tai Flora
• Rentals: Tai Flora
• Cake: Cakes by Noida
• Transportation: Koolspot Tours
• Hair: Iberostar Rose Hall Spa
• Makeup: Ladies did themselves (lesson from Sen Studios)
• Bridal Gown: Novelle Bridal Shop
• Accommodations: Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Resort
• Travel Agent: Mary Thomas from Holiday Events & Travel

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Anita + Ben’s wedding was our largest to date (prior to 2016), with 525 guests in attendance! In the morning, traditional Chinese tea ceremonies were held at both family homes, followed by the wedding ceremony and reception in Shaw Conference Centre’s Hall D.

The design dress blended a romantic colour palette with modern geometric shapes – elements that were carried through from the luxurious stationery to the head table backdrop and DJ booth. Because of the large guest list, we used four table designs to create an interesting layout and add dimension to the space. The tables were mixed rectangles and rounds, and each design featured different linens, place settings, chairs and centrepieces.

Self-proclaimed food lovers, Anita + Ben wanted to include some unique sweet & savoury stations for guests to enjoy. Their friends and family were treated to a selection of scrumptious Moonshine Doughnuts, Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt station, along with a potato chip bar!

See more of Anita + Ben’s wedding in the Autumn/Winter 2016 issue of Blush Magazine, and don’t miss their Same Day Edit video by A Love Story!

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

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Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography Backdrops: ubackdrop
• Videographer: A Love Story
• Officiant: Kaye Steward
• Ceremony Music: Terry McDade, Harpist
• Reception Music: Premiere DJs by Urban Metropolis (Harman B)
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
• Florist: faBLOOMosity
• Cake: The Art of Cake
• Doughnuts: Moonshine Doughnuts
• Frozen Yogurt Station: Tutti Frutti
• Rentals / Drapery: Special Event Rentals
• Lighting: Production Lighting
• Drapery: Site 6 Events
• Hair: NewHairLine
• Groom’s Family Hair + Makeup: Jenn Chivers
• Makeup: Sen Studios
• Gown: Nissa, Reem Acra

Anita + Ben’s wedding design blended a romantic colour palette with modern geometric shapes. Beginning with their invitations, we worked with Pinkpolka to develop patterns that had an edgy, unique look while using materials and colours that were timeless and romantic. This inspired us to tie the geometric shapes into their ceremony and head table backdrops, a custom DJ booth, as well as the wedding cake.

The inspiration:Photo Credits (clockwise from top left): Blush Ruffled Bridesmaid Dresses – Style Me Pretty; Lavender Bouquet –  Loverly; Geometric Wedding Invitation –  Zazzle; Rose Gold Wedding Shoes – Intimate Weddings; Gold Charger Plate – Style Me Pretty; Rose Gold Sparkle Wedding Cake – Wedding Chicks; Romantic Tablescape – HWTM; Modern Blush Lounge – The Knot.

…and the reality!

Photo Credit: shopbackdrop.

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In the next post we’ll share more behind this design, as well as some beautiful images of Anita + Ben’s Shaw Conference Centre wedding!

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planner + Designer