It’s been a while since we’ve posted a Real Wedding, but that doesn’t mean they’re not happening! Over the past few months we’ve helped dozens of couples say I Do in style, and I can’t wait to share their beautiful weddings with you.

First up is a wedding that is near and dear to me as the bride and groom have been close friends of mine for years. Shannon + Nathan were married on a sunny day in July at St. Matthew Parish. Shannon looked stunning in her romantic lace gown (Grace by Maggie Sottero), accessorized with a gold sash and teardrop earrings.

Their reception at St. Albert Inn was full of touching toasts from family and friends, a ceremonial “screechin’ in” of the groom (he’s now an honorary Newfie!), and lots and lots of dancing! The gorgeous images you see below are courtesy of Jill Coursen Photography.

{A very special thank you to Jessica for coordinating the day so I could enjoy and celebrate with my close friends!}

A collection of family wedding photos were displayed outside the ballroom, while ornate gold frames showed guests to their seats. The centrepieces were a grouping of gold sprayed bottles and floating candles. The bride’s father handmade the chunky wooden table numbers which added a gorgeous contrast to the table décor!

The couple included a special thank you note at each place setting to let guests know how much their presence was valued. An expansive pink and gold sweet table included cupcakes, macarons, cake pops and a variety of tasty candies.

A huge congrats again to my dear friends – wishing you a lifetime of happiness together!

Jennifer
Edmonton Wedding Planner + Designer

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Credits:

• Wedding Coordination: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photographer: Jill Coursen Photography
  
• Rentals: Arlene Yam Decor and Special Event Rentals
• Flowers: Flowers Alive
  
• Invitations + Stationery: Pinkpolka Wedding Design
• Reception Music: Baseline DJ
• Transportation: Esquire Limousines
• Gown: Bridal Début Edmonton
• Hair: Amber at Lavish Salon & Spa
• Makeup: Bella Mia Makeup

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.

Happy Holidays! The festive season is a perfect time to share this bright and bold event with you.

We worked with Saveena, Rodnie and several of their wonderful family members to plan this unforgettable September wedding weekend. Since many of their guests were travelling to Edmonton from out-of-town, Saveena + Rodnie chose to throw a Sangeet party for all the guests the night before the wedding.

Held at one of Edmonton’s quintessential landmarks – the Muttart Conservatory – this pre-wedding bash was designed in shades of pink, orange and gold with luxe Indian flair. The rentals and décor items were supplied by Elegant Touches and the linens were courtesy of Vancouver’s Upright Décor.

Katch Studios was on hand to capture every moment of this action-packed event…

Saveena + Rodnie both looked amazing! Saveena’s hair and makeup were done by the talented Sunita Sumaru.

When guests entered the Muttart they strolled down a red carpet until they reached this stunning floral arrangement by La Piazza Dasee. The entrance banner pictured above along with all reception stationary (table numbers, seating chart, signage) was expertly designed by PinkPolka Wedding Design.

La Piazza Dasee designed modern clusters of angled arrangements on each table which included calla lilies, roses and hydrangea. The ivory centrepieces nicely contrasted the bold colours throughout the rest of the space. QSD Event Services draped nearly every wall in the building with gorgeous fuschia, orange and bronze fabric, while Production Lighting made the room glow with perimeter and patterned gobo lighting.

The authentic Indian cuisine was catered by New Asian Village (West).

Modern white lounge furniture accented with colourful pillows surrounded the dance floor, giving guests a place to sit and chat without straying too far from the party.

There was plenty to take in throughout the evening! A Henna tent was setup in one of the Muttart pyramids and in another, artists Laurel Hawkswell and Gerry Rasmussen entertained guests with caricature portraits.

Elegant Touches custom made this jaw-dropping gold and crystal chandelier which perfectly fit over the dance floor. And speaking of dancing, this party had a lot of it! The night began with live music performed by Vic Khanna, and Premiere D.J.s rocked the party well into the morning!

Visit the fabulous Katch Studios blog for more amazing eye candy from this event! Saveena + Rodnie: It was such a pleasure to be part of your phenomenal pre-wedding celebration – the very best to you and your families in the New Year.

Jennifer + Team

Photo Credit: Katch Studios

Before reading this post, check out Part 1 to see the state of Danielle + Chris’ reception venue just 27 days before their wedding! Although it was tight, the brand new banquet facility built at La Cité Francophone was finished just in time to host this stunning inaugural event inside its freshly painted walls.

Danielle + Chris met back in elementary school and reconnected later in life. Turns out romance was in the cards and they haven’t looked back. In the slideshow there was even a class photo of them as little kids – it was adorable!

Danielle’s wedding vision was a romantic, whimsical and – most importantly – a pink reception! Some of her inspiration came from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and between the twinkly lights, lush centrepieces and dainty hanging chandeliers, I think old Will would have been proud!

Ashley and Andrew – the talented duo behind Paperheart Photography – did such a wonderful job with the photos! They are relatively new to the wedding industry and I am super impressed with their talent – be sure to check them out! Here’s a look at some of the gorgeous shots from Danielle + Chris’ day:

Danielle’s gown was so romantic and feminine – it suited her perfectly!

Might be the most stunning bouquet I’ve ever seen – courtesy of the uber-talented team at La Piazza Dasee.

Danielle looked A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

All the fabulous wedding stationary was designed by Jenelle at PinkPolka Wedding Design. It went so perfectly with the theme! The above photo is of the wedding programs at the church, and there is more beautiful reception stationary to come…

The new Mr. & Mrs. leaving St. Joachim Catholic Church.

Gotta love the hot pink shoes!

Danielle + Chris put a lot of thought and work into making their candy table look absolutely fabulous – and boy was it a hit!

Danielle had her engagement ring custom made into a stunning wedding band with vintage flair.

And now for a look at the reception venue that was still under construction just a few weeks before the wedding…

Voila! These gorgeous centrepieces were designed by La Piazza Dasee, and the gold metal trees, crystal garlands and hanging votives were supplied by Elegant Touches. Danielle’s father worked his handy-magic to hang five chandeliers over the head table. Special thanks to Gayeung for assisting me throughout the day!

The table names were of famous couples, and guests had to guess which movie or T.V. show the couple was from before they could eat. Any guesses on the above?

Danielle + Chris: It was an absolute pleasure to work with you on your wedding. I wish you a long and happy marriage – félicitations!

Jennifer

Thanks for your wonderful participation in the Four Weddings series over the last month! This was a lot of fun, and I hope you’re excited to see the final Inspiration Board that I put together based on your votes.

The theme for this board started to develop after the first post, Four Dresses, where you voted for the stunning Sunday Rose gown by Monique Lhuillier. The soft, ruffled roses give the gown a romantic, whimsical feel.  Next up was Four Bouquets, and the top pick was a bouquet of pretty pink and peach peonies. Colour palette – check!

Moving on to Four Invitations…now this was a split vote so I decided to pick my fave (#1). This design by Alee & Press is modern and minimalist, but I love the way the abstract scribbles mimic the roses in our gown and the ruffles of our peony bouquet. And finally, Four Cakes. You loved the classic four-tiered beauty by Cake Girls. The pink bows and vintage brooches go perfectly with our theme!

To round out the Inspiration Board I added some splashes of gold, romantic centrepieces and a pair of petal pink Christian Louboutin pumps.

Thanks again for participating!

Jennifer

Photo Credits (Clockwise L-R): Romantic Floral Centrepiece – Tres Fabu Events; Cake – Cake Girls; Gown – Monique Lhuillier; Bouquet – Martha Stewart Weddings; Vintage Gold Cuff – Beg, Borrow or Steal; Pink Petal Shoe – Christian Louboutin; Invitation – Alee & Press; Gold Place Setting – Elizabethanne Designs.