Banff wedding Archives - Page 12 of 12 - Banff And Canmore Wedding Planner

Winter Bouquet Alternatives

December 2, 2010 By Sharon Auld

by Sharon Auld

Let’s face it, it does get cold at times in the Canadian Rocky mountains. Of course, cold is relative and most Canadians are accustomed to a little cold – your wedding flowers on the other hand are probably not. If you’re considering an outdoor wedding ceremony during the winter months, whether its on the ski slopes or on the terrace of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, you’ve probably given some thought to what kind of winter wedding bouquet you will stand up to the conditions. It only makes sense for winter brides to consider their bouquet choices.

Silk flowers are the first thing that comes to mind for most brides and nowadays there are beautiful, realistic silk flower options at affordable prices (keep in mind you will pay more for higher quality silk flowers). But silk flowers aren’t the only alternative. There are several varieties of flowers and foliage that are hardy and stand up quite well to winter conditions. Remember the bouquets given to the medalists at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C.?

A bouquet made from ranunculus, tulips, anemones, berries and lamb’s ear make a good winter bouquet, like the one below.

winter wedding bouquet found via martha stewart weddings

We’ve found a number of creative winter bouquet alternatives, such as a beautiful brooch bouquet made from vintage brooches and jewelry, vintage button bouquets, felt bouquets and even wood flower bouquets. Not only are these bouquets eco-friendly, but will no doubt last for years to come to!

There really are so many alternatives for a winter bouquet; in fact, why carry a bouquet at all? Consider an evergreen wreath, a faux fur muff or even a lantern instead! Do you have some other creative options, drop us a line! What do you plan on carrying for your winter wedding?

silk-crystal-wedding-bouquet

emici bridal silk and crystal bouquet

Brooch bouquet via fantasy floral designs

vintage brooch bouquet via fantasy floral designs

Photo Source: 1. Martha Stewart Weddings 2. Emici Bridal 3. Fantasy Floral Designs 4. Letters for Lily 5. Modage Florals 6. Bragging Bags 7. Ruffled Blogs 8. Mega Furs by Tion Designs

Naturally Chic 1.888.679.9056 or info@naturallychic.ca.

Naturally Chic Designs from around the Web

November 22, 2010 By Sharon Auld

by Sharon Auld

We are so thrilled to have worked on designs with several of our colleagues from Alberta and B.C. Here are just some of our Naturally Chic Designs from around the web.

Jennifer from Jennifer Bergman Weddings and I have known each other for several years now and actually took our Wedding Planners Institute of Canada certification together. Jennifer is one of the most talented wedding planners in Edmonton, Alberta. She is fast becoming one of the most sought after wedding planners known for her elegant wedding design. Jennifer Bergman Weddings have been featured on the prestigious Style Me Pretty blog! We were thrilled to design a few pieces for one of Jennifer’s weddings.

Jennifer had us make a few engraved wooden bouquet charms to surprise the bride. Photo Credits: A Different Angle Photography & Jennifer Bergman Weddings.

Wood Table Number

The next is a wood seating chart I made. It was for an NHL hockey player’s wedding at Emerald Lake Lodge. We made everything from the menus, place cards, custom signage, favors, etc.

Photo Credits: Bonner Photography .

Engraved wood seating chart by Naturally Chic.

Wood engraved wedding sign and wood water bottle labels

engraved wedding tags by Naturally Chic | Photo by Bonner Photography.

engraved-wood-wedding-menu

We also did several projects for the talented Terra Law of Inspired Occasions. Terra was one of the first people I knew in the wedding industry and we were pleased to do some custom work for several of her beautiful weddings. The first photo is a wooden tree slab cake plate and the second is of an engraved maple wood table number and the third wood stump vases. Photo Credits: Inspired Occasions and the talented (and really fun) Terence from TLaw Photography.

rustic-wedding-decor

Engraved wood table number by Naturally Chic

wood stump vases done for Inspired Occasions

wood stump vase for Inspired Occasions

We also worked with Dione from Plush Invitations. Dione is amazingly talented and her designs are always works of art. If you aren’t familiar with Plush Invitations you really should check out their blog to see all their fabulous work (seriously she is the best)! Plush Invitations designed this beautiful holiday card for one of their clients and we engraved the wood portions.

To contact Naturally Chic about doing custom designs or help with planning your Banff and area wedding, call us at 1.888.679.9056, 1.403.679.1409 or email us at info@naturallychic.ca .

Is a Rocky Mountain Wedding Right for You?

July 6, 2010 By Sharon Auld

Is a Canadian Rocky Mountain wedding right for you? With renown picturesque beauty, arguably there’s nothing more beautiful or romantic than a wedding in the Rocky Mountains. Whether you’re contemplating an elegant, luxurious affair or a more serene, outdoor wedding there’s something for everyone. Think gorgeous mountain backdrops, world class food, accommodations, spas, golf and ski resorts, and the promise of adventure. Sounds magical right? Keep in mind perfect weddings don’t just happen. There are several important factors to keep in mind when planning a rocky mountain wedding.

Unless you’re fortunate enough to call the Rocky Mountains home, mountain weddings are destination weddings. Destination weddings can be more complicated than a wedding at home, and require a clear game plan. Here are some things to consider.

From hiring local wedding professionals, to traveling, a destination wedding takes more work. A local planner can be your greatest asset in securing caterers, florists, photographers, and other local vendors. Fortunately, local planner Naturally Chic knows the area and the best local vendors. They will assist you in finding the perfect outdoor ceremony location and reception venue that is suited to your style and budget. They will also let you know what permits you require.

2. A destination wedding means travel and accommodation expenses for you and your guests. Many of your guests will welcome a “mini- vacation” however, it’s a good idea to offer hotel and activity options for your guests at various price points. Block booking of hotel rooms is a good way to get a great deal for your guests. Keep in mind that it’s best to make arrangements well in advance. The mountains are a popular tourist destination and accommodations book up quickly. It’s also helpful to provide your guests a welcome package complete with maps, driving directions, places to eat. As well, information on activities and events happening in the area on the weekend of your Canadian Rocky Mountain wedding is helpful.

3. If your wedding is taking place within a Canadian National Park, your guests will also require a Park Pass. Make sure you and your guests allow extra time to get through Park gates as sometimes they can be quite busy! You wouldn’t want your guests to miss your ceremony!

4. National Parks have strict guidelines for outdoor weddings in the pristine mountain areas. Most outdoor areas in Banff National Park, require you to have no more than 25 guests, so as not to adversely impact the environment. You may not be permitted to set up chairs for your ceremony. Usually you can only set up one or two chairs for the elderly unless you are at a designated ceremony site. Fortunately, most mountain venues have gorgeous mountain views right on site.

5. If you’re contemplating a wedding in the mountains, you might be thinking about having an outdoor ceremony. Be prepared for anything! Mountain weather can be extremely unpredictable and often changes suddenly. Make sure your guests know the ceremony will be outdoors, and let them know to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Dressing in layers is always a good idea! You should also have a “Plan B”, or indoor backup plan. Be aware that you usually have to make a ‘weather call’ well in advance. Allow plenty of time for decor set up, especially if your reception is in the same room as the ceremony and needs to be reconfigured. Whatever your decisions, stay positive. Keep your sense of humor and remain flexible. What’s important is that you’re getting married surrounded by your loved ones.

6. Stock up on plenty of sunblock, bug spray, umbrellas and water for you and your guests if you are planning on being outside in the mountains for any length of time.

Bonus: Currently, vactioning in Canada is a great deal if you are traveling from the USA, UK or Australia! Your currency will go a lot further here!

With a thoughtful approach and extra planning, a Canadian rocky mountain wedding can be a unique, unforgettable experience for everyone! You may even have some interesting ‘wedding crashers’.

Happy Planning!

If you are contemplating a Banff wedding, Lake Louise wedding or a wedding anywhere in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Naturally Chic would love to hear from you! Contact us at at hello@naturallychic.ca for more information.

Wedding Dilemmas

May 2, 2010 By Sharon Auld

Your Wedding Planner Ditches You for a Larger Wedding!

by Sharon Auld

So, you’ve hired a wedding planner, signed the contract months ago and now you are hearing for the first time that the wedding planner you chose to work with will no longer be handling your wedding. Instead, she has arranged to have an assistant take over for you (unfortunately this does happen). You hired her, not her assistant. What’s a bride to do?

Recently, I was reading one of my favorite wedding resources “The Bride’s Diplomacy Guide – Solutions to 150 of the Stickiest Dilemmas that Face a Bride-to-Be”, written by my favorite wedding author Sharon Naylor (www.sharonnaylor.net). Sharon is one of the most prolific wedding authors in the United States and has written dozens of wedding books. She is definitely considered an expert with all things related to weddings and I was quite intrigued when I came across this topic in the chapter: “Vendors with an Attitude”. In this chapter she talks about what to do when you encounter problems with vendors such as: creative differences, communication issues and negotiating with your vendor. Questions are posed and Sharon offers her expert opinion on the subject.

So, how does wedding expert Sharon Naylor suggest you handle this sticky situation? If I were to sum up the motto of the book, it would be that “a little diplomacy and grace go a long way in any wedding dilemma”. Sharon suggests that you communicate with your wedding planner and although its sometimes commonplace to have an assistant handle administrative tasks and other related duties in the early planning stages, the bride-to-be needs to state (without any attempts at manipulating or guilting the planner) and I am paraphrasing here: “While we are happy with the progress thus far, we are looking forward to working with you. When will you be working with us?”. Sharon suggests that if the planner tells you that your wedding has been assigned to the assistant, that you (the bride) have full right to turn down that arrangement as you interviewed and hired the planner.

To further, the response in the “Bride’s Diplomacy Guide”, Sharon points out that:

“If you signed on the dotted line to have her plan your wedding, she’s

in breach of contract and you should be able to get all of your money back.”

Of course, make sure you read the fine print in the contract to make sure that:

“…there’s nothing in there about agreeing to have an assistant handle your

wedding if the coordinator is unable to do so.”

Personally, I think this is all great advice! I also think it is important that the bride knows that not all wedding planners will have the aforementioned clause in their contract for the purpose of ditching a smaller wedding for a larger, more lucrative wedding. Some planners have adopted this clause in case of accident or injury to the planner. Not all planners are unscrupulous! In some larger wedding firms, it is quite common that you will be assigned an associate planner and not necessarily the company’s “celebrity planner”. In most cases, these companies are upfront and transparent; they will let you know who your planner will be before you sign on the dotted line.

It’s also a good idea to hire a planner that has been certified through a reputable association such as the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) or The Wedding Planner’s Institute of Canada (WPIC). These associations generally have a code of ethics that planners adhere to and usually encourage transparent communications with clients.

There’s nothing wrong with a bride asking that the contract be amended to reflect her wishes. If the company refuses to accommodate, then she is free to go elsewhere and is not locked into a contract she is unhappy with. Some companies will have set policies and will not change them, while others may be more flexible. There’s no harm in asking for what you want…and always read the fine print to avoid pre-wedding surprises. Bottom line? If you are not happy with a contract, don’t sign it. You have the freedom to work with whoever you want.

In honor of our new series, “Your Wedding Dilemmas” we are giving away a free copy of: “The Bride’s Diplomacy Guide – Solutions to 150 of the Stickiest Dilemmas that Face a Bride-to-Be” to one lucky bride. All you have to do is write a comment on this post and tell me you are a bride-to-be. Check back here to see who the lucky winner is. Check out Sharon Naylor’s site for many other fabulous wedding planning books. Feel free to send us your wedding dilemma questions and we’ll try and help. Happy Planning!

Kindly Note* Naturally Chic is not rendering legal advise in anyway. You are urged to contact professional legal representation if you are in need of legal advice.

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*