Friday Fabulous Find Brings You A One Woman Shoe

WESTERLY Handmade Shoes

Renee Macdonald

Renee is a magnificent 1 woman show, creating handmade leather shoes for any special man.  Because not just anyone can be lucky enough to wear her shoes.

Renee uses the traditional methods of shoemaking, in the design, shaping and assembly, which is all done by hand.  Using the best materials available.  This allows for a "truly unique and enduring product every time".

One of the main accessories Brides excitedly purchase are shoes for their wedding day, and well what about the boys?!  

The process is very simple, contact Renee at WESTERLY Handmade Shoes, meet Renee and she gets to know your style and what it is that you're exactly looking for, from there she will create a masterpiece.

As Renee puts it best,

"WESTERLY HANDMADE SHOES are constructed for reliability, longevity, and beauty.  They are made to be worn and loved."

So Groom's, it's a great gift idea for your Bestman or for yourself!  Come on Brides, share the love on the day of the wedding and make it about him too!  But not to worry Brides, Renee does women's shoes also.

Its a gift that will last almost forever ;)

For further information or to contact Renee click here!

By Sandy Pandher, Associate Planner with DreamGroup Productions

With her "hands on" energetic approach to planning, Sandy offers a perfect balance between assertiveness and calmness -- two qualities instrumental in qualifying oneself as a great planner. This smart, savvy and dedicated planner's passion is in building relationships and connecting with each of her clients so that their wedding day can truly reflect who they are as a couple and what their love story symbolizes. Sandy is best suited to the busy Urban couple looking for a knowledgeable and intuitive planner to help bring their wedding vision to life.

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We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Friday's Fabulous Find brings something for the Guys!

DreamGroup offers a quick read for the guys this week!

And if you're a lady, you will want to read this also, as it's a great idea on how to make your man feel special and spoil him!...3 letters:

                                                                                              Barbershop

  
Jd's Barber Shop is located at 235 Abbot Street in Gastown.  I send a lot of my Grooms and Groomsmen to Jd's before the wedding, to get all "pretty'd up"...yup I said it!  All the Grooms and Groomsmen that go all love it!  I mean why wouldn't they, it's like a spa but for men!  It's a great place for the guys to go and bond over a hot shave and a glass of scotch.  They have wedding party specials where it's a hot shave and a scotch for only $50.  

The guys at JD's Barbershop are very chill and keep the environment pretty casual, yet they are amazing at what they do.

So whether your man or someone you know needs a bit of TLC before their wedding or event, have them make a visit to the shop.  They will come out looking B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L.

By Sandy Pandher, Associate Planner with DreamGroup Productions

With her "hands on" energetic approach to planning, Sandy offers a perfect balance between assertiveness and calmness -- two qualities instrumental in qualifying oneself as a great planner. This smart, savvy and dedicated planner's passion is in building relationships and connecting with each of her clients so that their wedding day can truly reflect who they are as a couple and what their love story symbolizes. Sandy is best suited to the busy Urban couple looking for a knowledgeable and intuitive planner to help bring their wedding vision to life.

Click here to sign up for DreamGroup's Mailing list!

We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Monday's Montage: Groom's Style Guide

The dress, the hair,  the accessories, the makeup, the lashes, the manicures, the diamonds, the SHOES! What do we sometimes forget? Oh right, the groom! Lucky for the boys, they can sleep in a little longer than you on the wedding day. A shower, a shave, and a fantastic suit will usually suffice. Which is your grooms style?

The Classic Groom

The Quirky Groom

The Preppy Groom (Did you find Chuck Bass you lucky girl?)

The Black Tie Groom

The Hipster Groom

The Summer Groom



The Whimsical Groom

The Outdoorsy Groom

You've already fallen in love with your prince charming, just wait until he takes your breath away all over again dressed up on your big day. Let Won at The Tux Store help you find the perfect suit to match your man's style. Groomsmen of all heights and sizes are well are taken care of, rentals include: Jacket, Pants, Shirt, Tie, Full Back Vest, Shoes, Socks, and Suspenders.

By Jayleen Deelman, Associate Planner with DreamGroup Productions

Jayleen Deelman has been with DreamGroup for 2 years and after proving herself as our Star Wedding Coordinator now takes on the role of Loving Planner. Jayleen is upbeat, good natured, and always smiling. She is attentive and with her passion for everything weddings she is key in carrying out a fluid and enjoyable wedding day experience. Clients adore her sweet disposition and her desire to make their wedding a memory they will never forget.

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We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week...

Wedding Band Shopping

• Enjoy the time shopping and browsing, giving yourself at least two months to feel confident in your personal style and taste. Take note of what captures your interest and mark price and design before making the ultimate purchase. If you're going the custom route, personalizing your rings with special engravings can take up to a month to finish.
• When pricing out your wedding bands, note that the average wedding band is about 3 percent of your wedding budget. Depending on the preferred band and whether or not you want some extra sparkle, the cost can quickly increase.
• Be true to your personal style and lifestyle!

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Want to Know what He's Really Thinking Before the Wedding?

Find out what some guys say really goes on in a man's mind before the big day...

• Getting married is big news, but not necessarily the only thing a guy wants to talk about. “It was a little awkward [telling everyone], 'Hey, we're engaged!' But Facebook made it easier... I couldn't wait for it be over so people can start asking me about other things."
• "Wedding planning is the worst... Deciding on the tables was way more complicated than I imagined."
• "I was worried about the families getting along at the wedding... Especially because my parents are divorced and their families don't get along well. Add another family in the mix and it could get messy.”
• “I was flat-out afraid of getting a little too emotional during the ceremony. My brother-in-law told me how his brother was a slobbering mess at his wedding, and I did not want that to be me.”
• "I checked the sports calendar when we were picking the date... We ended up with the weekend of the PGA Championship, but I decided that was OK. Plus, we would be done by Sunday afternoon, so I could watch the end of the final round."
• "I don't want to get bombed and either make an ass out of myself or forget part of the night... I thought, Better make sure I don't get too drunk. You don't want to be 'that guy' at your own wedding."
• "I wanted to make sure I spent some time with each guest... I still managed to mess it up. At the rehearsal dinner, I made it to two out of 11 tables. At the wedding, I made it to maybe five out of about 18.”
• "Please, I beg of you, don't go off the grid and buy us a crystal candy bowl for a gift... "
• "Do we have to send one to that relative no one likes who won't come anyway?"

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Friday's Fabulous Find: Black Tie Rings

Black Tie Rings is a locally based online store that sells premium quality Tungsten Carbide rings for men. Although they are based out of Cloverdale, they have served customers from all across Canada and the United States.

Tungsten Carbide is one of the hardest and densest metals used anywhere today. In addition to being incredibly durable, the colour of Tungsten Carbide has an eternal mirror finish that catches the light like your sparkly engagement ring!

These are unique and quality rings that won't break the bank; your groom is sure to stand out from the crowd!

Find more information on Black Tie Rings here.

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Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week...What the Pros Want You to Know, Part 10

DG's 12 Week Series of Tips from the Pros...

Fashion for you & your groom…

Book your tuxes at least 2 - 4 months in advance (minimum 4 months during the busy months of June through September). Before you book your tuxes, discuss who will be paying for the tuxes and who will be putting down the deposit for the order, etc. Know what color the Bride's and the Bridesmaid's gowns are, since that will dictate the colour of the shirt and ties. The Groom should always look more formal or at least slightly different than the Groomsmen, just as the Bride stands out, so should the groom!

~ The Tux Store

When shopping for your dress, be sure to bring with you a couple different bras (i.e. halter, low-back, strapless, etc.) and wear g-string underwear. If you are planning on wearing form shaping undergarments, such as Spanx, don’t forget to bring those along as well as dresses always fit better when one is wearing the proper undergarments. Secondly, choose a dress that highlights your best features. Think of an outfit that often earns you lots of compliments… Perhaps it’s that strapless dress that shows off your shoulders or an a-line skirt that enhances your curves. If you are still unsure of the right style dress for you grab a trusted friend and make an afternoon of trying on dresses in your closet. Figure out what makes you feel and look your best. Allow at least 6-12 months to have a custom dress made for you.

~ Caroline Calvert, of Caroline Calvert Couture

As soon as you are ready, start shopping for your dress. Delivery times are only an estimate and leaving it too late could result in your not having the dress you wanted in time for the big day. When dealing with ‘off the rack’ purchases the garments are often being ordered from overseas and so things like customs and high demand for a certain style of gown cannot be predicted and may delay delivery. Be aware that alterations are always an extra cost because there is no way to know how a particular dress is going to fit your frame until you get it on. When ordering a dress off the rack all sales are final due to the fact that dresses are not stocked and are only cut and made upon official order of the dress.

~ Isabelle's Bridal

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Fun Fashion for the Groom or Guest...

Whether he's the groom or the guest, the latest issue of GQ magazine offers some great inspiration for summer wedding attire. They're chic, modern, and each with a personal twist.

The bride may be the centre of the attention, but it doesn't mean the groom should fall to the wayside. And if he's simply on the guest list, he can still dress to impress and have fun with fashion...

A GQ tip: "Get your hair cut a week before the wedding, not a day before. When the time comes, put it in a tidy side part"

The perfect punch of pattern! "Just remember, you only want to wear one superstar at a time. The shirt, tie, and trousers should all be solid colors."

Take a break from the traditional black suit, and try the unexpected midnight blue!

- Lisa Cohen, GQ's in-house suiting expert.

GQ's New Rules of Weddings

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Brock House Wedding Show a Huge Hit!

We received the much anticipated photos from the Wedding Show that Brian Noppe shot and we are so excited to share them with you. We had nothing but rave reviews from all of the vendors that participated and the couples that attended. "The best show yet..."

Here are some of our favorite shots from the Show...

To start off the Fashion Show, we had a fantastic Sax Player named Murray Uncyk perform a little Etta James "At Last" to create the feel and set the scene of Central Park in Fall:





Then like any good fashion show...the beautiful dresses swept the stage beginning with wedding dresses from Isabelle's Bridal:













Then our models showcased bridesmaids dresses from Frocks Modern Bridesmaids...the bridesmaids dresses that can be worn again and again:





And we can't forget the handsome guys in Tuxes by The Tux Store:





And last but definitely not least, we had our couture part of the show with Caroline Calvert original designs:






The Fashion Show was so inspiring with such great dresses and even tuxes for the guys. So many of the brides found their perfect dress on the runway.

One of the most satisfying parts of putting together this show was that we raised money & awareness for a great charity called Unique Minds. We've been working with this non-profit organization over the last year to raise funds to help kids overcome their learning disabilities.

We had so much fun producing this show and look forward to doing it all again next year. I think we have some high expectations to reach...no problem!

If you have a unique product or service that you would like to showcase in the 2008 Brock House Wedding Show, please contact us.