The Orca String Quartet

It isn't as easy to write a feature on a musical wedding service as some others, due to the fact that you really need to hear a sample of what the musicians play to be sold. Well, I was certainly sold after hearing a sample of Bach played by the Orca String Quartet. A couple of their enchanting songs are available to be heard on their website: Check it out here.

However, I have to admit that the Orca logo this quartet uses on their website really pulled on my heartstrings. Were it not for the music samples, I have to say I would have been tempted to feature them based on this cute whale alone!



Isn't he adorable?

Adorable Bow Invitations

Of all the wedding invitations I have stumbled across online so far, the bow and ribbon designs have been my favorites. I love the smooth and elegant texture a ribbon adds to a greeting card or invitation, and this type of invitation is definitely popular in all of the 2009 and 2010 wedding catalogs. Here are some of my favorite examples of this style:



I borrowed these pictures from Wedding-Needs.com, as they have an especially cute collection!

Do you sell on Etsy?

I hope you'll forgive me for a moment of shameless self-promotion, but I've just started another brand new blog: Etsyzine.



This blog will focus primarily on fabulous items and artists on Etsy.com (a handmade marketplace). If you have an etsy shop (or know somebody who does) please comment on my new blog: Etsyzine.blogspot.com. I will be selecting many of the featured artists/artisans from my blog there, so please make yourself heard if you want me to notice you. :)

The theme this week is 'pleats and ruffles', but even if your items don't qualify, you may be considered for future articles.

Thank you for your support!

Alderwood Wedding Venue

I am lucky enough to have experienced what an outdoor wedding is like at my very first featured wedding venue, Alderwood Farm, and I have been waiting patiently since my experience to write an article about it. The creative mind behind the breathtaking outdoor landscape, Jules, sent me some pictures today, and I couldn't wait to share them with my readers!

Alderwood Farm is located in a huge, private, and secluded area of land on Bowen Island, BC. Bowen Island is a 15 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, or from Granville Island. Alderwood boasts a fabulous artisan-style shop with all sorts of delectable treats, foods, and deluxe packaged meals. Tucked away up from the shop, on a cozy nook, sits the most romantic bed and breakfast I have ever seen (or had the pleasure to stay in).



The farm is rich with greenery and flowers, and it isn't uncommon for a mother hen and her baby chicks to come waddling peacefully across your path. The wedding venue area has been designed with every detail in consideration. There is a higher plateau, perfect for the dinner reception. This higher plateau is set up with a covered area, and a clear slanted roof (so as to capture the beautiful light of day and view the clear stars at night). There is a wooden stage set up in the background, and behind that is a tiered rock formation, reminiscent of something out of paradise.

The plateau slightly lower than the first is perfect for the wedding ceremony, and the one that I witnessed there was heartwarming and beautiful.



Below those two plateaus is a large open area. For the wedding I witnessed there, they used this area to set up another romantic tent, with a delectable array of desserts (all catering was done by Jules, the owner of the farm). There were also tables set up for après-dinner coffee, and tea. The 3rd tent on the lower area was set up for one of the bars.



By the time the sun went down, and every guest's face was aglow with the warmth that comes from such a beautiful celebration, the romantic aspects of having an outdoor wedding really began to shine, literally. Jules had anticipated having an opportunity to use the night to her atmospheric advantage, and all around us lanterns were suddenly lit, illuminating all of the fantastic decorations and flowers. Glowing lanterns hung from the reception area. Sparkling glass lanterns lined the walkways, and the entire scene was so magical, I doubt anything I describe could ever really do it justice. I wish I had night pictures, but I hope I have given you an idea.

The website is here: Alderwood Farm Weddings. Jules can be reached at alderwoodfarm@shaw.ca and their phone number is 604-947-9434.

Poll Results

The results are back from the poll I recently had posted on my blog. The poll asked which wedding-related topic readers most wanted to have featured here. Wedding venues won by a landslide, so my next article will be about one very special wedding venue, which I have actually anticipated writing about for some time (I was just waiting for the right pictures).

Thank you all again for your participation and support! A new poll is up, so please check it out in the sidebar. :)

-Robbin

It's Official!

I will be attending the Creme de la Creme wedding show (check out a few posts ago when I blogged about it) this November 15th. I couldn't be more excited! The Creme de la Creme, much like its title, should prove to be one of the most spectacular and stylish shows in 2009. For those of you who won't be able to make it, I will be collecting as many business cards as my greedy hands can gather. I will hopefully be featuring MANY of the vendors from the show who allow me to do so.

For those who are considering visiting a wedding show this year, check out their website: Creme de la Creme

M&Ms For the Cure!

As some of you may have noticed, I recently added a button banner for M&Ms to my blog sidebar, which links to their new shimmery wedding candy which can be customized with pictures and words. I was playing around with their candy customizing tool to see what my face would look like on an M&M (I really couldn't help it), and I noticed something I wanted to share with you.



For the month of October M&M's is helping in the fight to end breast cancer. For any Susan G Komen promise blend purchase, they will be donating 10% to the cause. Customers will also receive 12% off their purchase to encourage participation. I am definitely going to participate, and I think that these will make wonderfully thoughtful and positive Halloween presents. :) You can also personalize them with your own messages! See the link for examples.

If you would like to particpate, here is the link: Spread cheer & support with MY M&M'S Promise Blend & help support the Komen Promise. Get 12% OFF!

Vancouver Wedding Shows 2009

I was excited to find a plethora of wedding shows and bridal shows being held locally in the next few months. Each show features its own qualities from designer wedding dress fashion shows to exclusive bridal workshops. Of course, there are also the many giveaways and samples to draw you in, so I have decided to do something here that I haven't found on any other local website: I'm going to list the 3 most notorious local wedding shows, including notes below each with information and highlights (so that you don't have to go searching through all of the websites to find the pertinent information)!

1. Creme de la Creme:
What: The most classy and luxurious (read:rich) wedding show there is.
Featuring: Haute couture fashion show, tastings, gift bag, huge prize draws (incl. a diamond draw)
When: November 15th, 11am-6pm
Where: The 4 Seasons Hotel, Vancouver
Tickets: from $35



2. Brockhouse Wedding Show:
What: An intimate, informative, and elegant wedding show.
Featuring: Wine, Appetizers, gift bag (incl. cubic zirconia and sterling silver earrings), door prizes, and grand prize is a dream honeymoon vacation.
When: October 18th, 11-3 or 3-7
Where: Brockhouse, Vancouver
Tickets: $35



3. Lovestruck Brides:
What: Vancouver's most interactive and fashionable bridal event. Vintage glamor theme.
Featuring: Pampering, canapes, drinks, swag bag (with $200 value jewelry), fashion shows.
When: November 15th (note: this date conflicts with creme de la creme so you have to choose!) 10am to 6pm
Where: The Vancouver Club
Tickets: from $30

Readers' Choice Poll

I have added another poll to my blog, which you'll find over on the right. I'd like to know what people are most interested in seeing features/articles on. If there is something you'd like to read about that isn't on the poll, please leave a comment here :)

Thanks!

JMB Wedding Photography

There is, in fact, no shortage of wedding photographers in the wedding service industry. That being said, finding someone to do a feature on was like picking a needle out of a haystack. However, just because there is an abundance of something, does not mean that there is an abundance of quality. I chose to do a feature on JMB photography not only because the pictures looked nice, but because they stuck out from all the other pictures I looked at from various local websites. The photographer, Jen Birnie, captures emotions in her subjects that really show in the images.



Looking through the gallery on her website, I found that many of the pictures actually told a story. Of course, they look great while doing so, but the emotional aspect of her work was what really drew me in.



JMB Photography is located in BC. The website is here: JMB Photography. Even if you aren't planning to hire a professional photographer any time soon, I recommend looking through her portfolio just for the experience.

Poll Results - Marrying Age

The votes are in for my first blog poll "What is the ideal age for a woman to get married at. The results are:

1. 18-21 (7%)
2. 22-24 (15%)
3. 25-30 (42%)
4. 30 and older (11%)
5. no perfect age (26%)

So the winner is 25-30, I better hurry up! :)

Thanks to all those who voted and who have been supporting my blog so far. :)

Adspace Information

Ad space is available for rent on this blog. I support text links and buttons/banners. For more information, and to get a quote, email me at:

robbin.egg@hotmail.com

Pamper Your Soul

In an effort to 'think outside the box', I was on the lookout for any local service or products that would be useful for a Bridal Shower or a bachelorette party, and what's more unique than bringing the spa to your home? Vancouver mobile spa provider, Pamper Your Soul, has a delightful array of spa services to cater to your needs.



Their packages seem to mostly come bundled, which are ideal for a party. There is even a service called "Something Old Something New" which is meant especially for a bride and her guests, and includes manicures, pedicures, spa facial and aromatherapy massage.



Another exciting thing I noticed about their packages is their "Stay In" package, which is meant for couples to enjoy spa treatments and massages together. What a wonderful way for a bride and groom to either prepare for their wedding, or relax together the day after. Pamper Your Soul is even offering a course for couples to learn how to give aromatherapy massages to each other.



The company website is located here: Pamper Your Soul. There is also an option to purchase gift certificates, and what an ideal wedding gift that would be!

A side note: Due to the nature of their service, Pamper Your Soul doesn't have any pictures of their services so the pictures used here were royalty-free images I found online. If any of the images belong to you and you do not wish for me to use them please let me know and I'll take them down. Thank you :)

Mmmm, chocolate fountain!

I have a confession to make: I am a hopeless and irreconcilable addict. My vice? CHOCOLATE! On an especially rainy and overcast Saturday, I am cozied up on my couch, and find myself craving something decadent, but I certainly don't feel like going out into the ugliness to get it... So, I decided to write about it instead. With serious chocolate cravings on my mind, I found myself at chocolaTas and, as you can see, that is not a typo.


Just a glance at their rich looking and beautifully crafted chocolate is enough to sell me on their product, but they go beyond just chocolate. I found several wonderful wedding ideas perusing their site. See, for example, this deluxe chocolate assortment laid out in a layered and swiveling picture box.



What a wonderful gesture it would be to obtain some of the bride and groom's most treasured photos and put them in the picture slots - causing them to conjure up blissful memories as they indulge together in the edible portion of their gift.

In my opinion, though, the real 'pride and glory' of chocolaTas' wedding items is their extravagant chocolate fountain. Of course, I saved the best for last.



Their large chocolate fountain comes with the chocolate needed to feed up to 300 guests, and is surprisingly affordable. This being especially true, considering they use only fine Belgium chocolate by Callebaut. They have a store on Granville Island, Vancouver, in the public market, and another in Abbotsford. Their website can be found here: chocolaTas.

InspirASIAN Creations

Without knowing exactly what I was looking for, I was browsing through various Vancouver wedding vendor and service provider websites, and I found this one particular item which really caught my attention. This cherry blossom themed disposable camera is so striking and unique, I can't help but get carried away by thoughts on how fun it would be at a wedding. The vendor suggests placing several cameras on each table and encouraging guests to snap shots throughout the event. This would add to your themed decor, create a fun activity for the guests, and would ensure that every memory was captured. The vendor who supplies this camera is Inspirasian Creations. They sell wedding favors exclusively, and their ingenuity does not stop at the camera.

When I first looked at this chrome letter opener, I anticipated the price would be at least $20. I was delighted to find that this item costs only $3.25, and even goes as low as $2.70 when larger quantities are purchased. While admiring the pretty gift, I started to ponder over how I would present it to my wedding guests. My suggestion: You could place the letter opener on an envelope for each guest, and inside their envelope would be a 'love letter' from you to them, telling them a few things that make them special to you.

I feel almost guilty mentioning this next item halfway through my post. It actually deserves its very own post but I can't wait, so here it is.



It's cleverly called the "Having the Upper Hand" cake topper, and what an appropriate name that is. I can just imagine how fun and easy-going the bride and groom are who would use this, and how much fun their wedding would be. I can also imagine that when the bride decides she wants this as her cake topper, there will be no argument. :)

Inspirasian Creations is mostly dedicated to Asian-inspired items, so they would be the perfect stop for someone working with that type of theme. However, they also have a large amount of other favors and items that would suit just about anyone. They are located in Vancouver, have a local phone number listed, and their website is: Inspirasian Creations.

Photobooth Vancouver

If you are looking for something unique, fresh, and fun for your wedding, do I ever have just the thing! When I stumbled upon Photobooth Vancouver, I was instantly blown away with such an inventive idea: having a photobooth at a wedding.





Who doesn't have fun memories of piling into one of those mall photobooths with their best friends/lover and scrambling to organize different poses before the flash comes - and then the anticipation of waiting for them to come out of that slot just minutes later?





Well, imagine if those shots came out as high-quality digital photos, each with your very own wedding logo on them. Not only does the booth serve as a huge source of fun at a wedding party, and a great keepsake for wedding guests and the couple to take home, but the pictures look great!





I think this would be a really great gift idea for a few of the bride and groom's closest friends to chip in on, and I will be bookmarking the site for when that opportunity comes my way. If you'd like to do the same, check them out here: Photobooth Vancouver. They also have a blog right here on blogspot!!! Link here: Photobooth Blogspot.


If you care to comment, let me know: would you want a photobooth at your wedding? Why or why not?

Yuki Lam - Makeup Artist

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post my next feature, but I'm so excited I have to do it now!

I decided that I would next like to include a local makeup artist and hair stylist, but perusing the Craigslist services and google searching, I have to say I found myself disappointed. Many of the artists' portfolios fall short of impressive. The makeup jobs often look like something I could do on the skytrain, but pricing reflects work you would expect to look like something out of a magazine. Well, enough negative ranting. There was a light at the end of my artist search tunnel: Yuki Lam.





The eyebrow taper in that shot is enough to win me over, but she really does an exquisite job on every aspect of her makeup application, and it shows.





If I were getting married, I would be hesitant about hiring a makeup artist because I am quite confident in my own makeup skills and would not want to pay to have someone do less or the same of what I would have done. However, Yuki's magazine cover-page quality bridal makeup restores my faith in the value of hiring an artist.





But it doesn't stop at the makeup. She also provides hair stylist services, and was I ever blown away by what I found in her gallery. Her work makes me want to get married for no other reason than to be in one of those beautiful pictures. Speaking of which, I saved the best picture for last... Perfection! (click on the picture for the larger version so you can see the detail)





Yuki is, of course, located in Vancouver, BC. If you are as enthralled with her work as I am (I can't imagine who wouldn't be), check out her website: Yukilam.webs.com There, you will find her portfolio with larger versions of the pics I've posted here and then some. Her contact email is: yukilammakeup@hotmail.com

Powder Blue Bijoux

I spent a considerable amount of time trying to decide who I would feature first in my new blog, and I think Powder Blue Bijoux was the right decision. She is a Vancouver based wedding jewelry and hair accessory designer, and her hair pieces especially caught my attention. With their classic white and ivory colour schemes, enriched with dainty embellishments, her hair clips, hair fascinators, and birdcage veils are breathtaking and surprisingly affordable.





My personal favourite is this decadent white fleather floral fascinator with rhinestones and faux pearls. I think this piece is a bride's dream come true!



Powder Blue Bijoux's unique and beautiful wedding accessories are available for purchase through her Etsy.com store: Powder Blue Bijoux. She does mention in her profile that she will also make custom changes at the customer's request.


What do you think of her accessories? Do you have a favourite? I'd love some comments and feedback! :)

Welcome!!!

The purpose of this blog will be to provide information, ideas, resources, and whatever else comes about relating to weddings! I live in Vancouver, BC, and I noticed there are NO wedding blogs in this area at all, so I'm filling that empty space right up! :) However, I would still like to do articles and features on wedding-related things from outside of the area. If you have something you'd like me to feature in my blog, please contact me. My contact info is in my profile, which you can find on the side bar.

Well, all seriousness aside, I thought it would be fun to start with a poll. If you look over to the right, you'll see it! Anyone can vote, and I hope some do. I am curious about what you think is the appropriate age for a woman to get married. Growing up, I always planned to get married at age 23. I'm not sure why I chose that age, but it just suited my fancy. Haha. Well, needless to say, my opinion has changed over time... What about yours? When the poll is complete, I will post the results here! Thank you for voting.