Friday's Fabulous Finds

This week we bring you unforgettable entertainment that will make your guests feel in love, creating that oh so ever romantic mood, being fun and exciting yet relaxed.

I am sure you have heard her name though out the city of Vancouver...I introduce you to a Vancouver native and the very talented  

Jaclyn Guillou!

At the very young age of 2, Jaclyn Guillou knew she had found one of her passions.  Once you hear her beautiful voice, you will be hooked and taken to a different land, which I like to call "Land of DayDream" and once you listen to her songs, you will understand what I mean.  Miss Guillou and her band will help you create the perfect ambiance for your guests to remember your wedding or event!  I have had the honor of Jaclyn Guillou share her amazing voice at some of my weddings, corporate events and private home events.  At the weddings, Jaclyn sang during the cocktail hour and dinner reception, which provided the perfect ambiance for guests to enjoy!

Jaclyn and her very talented band come prepared with everything, she will sit down with you and your planner before the event and ensure she understands your event clearly and plans accordingly ie) style of music, etc.

Here is what the Jazz community has to say about Jaclyn:

“Guillou puts a slightly more organic contemporary jazz spin on music steeped in tradition and thus makes old school become new cool, the sign of a true artist.”               
~ Critical Jazz 

“An album that is so rich with dimension you need a pair of 3D glasses to listen to it.”  
~!Earshot Magazine

“BC has produced another rising star, someone perhaps to follow in the footsteps of international jazz artist Diana Krall in the years to come.”
 ~ Review Vancouver 

Visit her website and take a listen, the website not only lists her work but her latest music videos but also Jaclyn's upcoming shows.
 

Make your event unforgettable!  

To contact Jaclyn Guillou, please click here!  

CONTEST ALERT!!: Tell us at DreamGroup what you think of Jaclyn's music by writing on DreamGroup's Facebook wall and you will be entered to win a copy of Jaclyn Guillou's very latest CD!

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 CONTEST DETAILS

  WIN a copy of Jaclyn Guillou's latest CD

Value of this Prize is $20.00 CAD (exclusive of taxes)

CONTEST RULES
 

• Winner must live in the Vancouver Lower Mainland
 
• This Contest ends Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 5:00pm PST.  Winner will be drawn randomly and announced on the DreamGroup Blog, Facebook and Twitter on Friday, November 9th.  The winner must contact DreamGroup within 72 hours to claim their prize.

• The winner is responsible for picking up their prize

• This prize cannot be substituted by the winner or redeemed for cash.

HOW TO ENTER

To Enter: Tell us at DreamGroup what you think of Jaclyn's music by writing on DreamGroup's Facebook wall

Good Luck!

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.

Monday's Montage: Decorative Backdrops

The top wedding trends of the moment are Pops of Colour, Ombre shading and the ultimate favourite trend at the moment, Decorative Backdrops for adorning space at a wedding ceremony or reception. We love all the different ways that you can add a beautiful visual to your wedding with ribbons, colourful fabrics, tissue paper garlands or pom poms. Of course in some cases backdrops are more functional than anything as they may be required to to block out some disastrous interior design, or maybe a faulty window – whatever the reason may be you can’t go too wrong with any of the backdrop ideas below. If you love any of the ideas below but D.I.Y wouldn’t be your strong point we can point you in the right direction.

 

 Tassel Garlands

 

 

 

 

 Decorative Wallpaper or Fabric

 Personalized Boards

 

Jayleen Deelman has been with DreamGroup since 2010 and has made her way from our Star Wedding Coordinator to a Dedicated Associate 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.

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

We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Ask a Planner... "Top 5 Wedding Faux Pas"

Hello Lovelies!

We get questions all the time about what's proper and what's not when hosting a wedding and so I thought I'd recap several of them here for everyone's reading pleasure and education. Keep in mind that my opinion is based on 14 years in the wedding business specifically and is a result of seeing (and hearing) the effects of client's decisions (both good and bad) from a guest's perspective.  Hopefully this insight offers you -- the future bride -- an opportunity to understand the repercussions of certain decisions now rather than after when it's too late!  No need to say Hindsight is 20-20 or feel regret when you know ahead of time! :O) 

Top 5 Wedding Faux Pas:

1. Timing is Everything - Think about how the day will play out for both you, your wedding party, and your guests.  If you are having an evening reception, try and schedule the ceremony to take place later in the day to keep the momentum going.  There's nothing more awkward and boring than having to "waste away" precious hours in the middle of the day hanging out at a local restaurant in your finest attire while you wait for the evening festivities to commence.  Early morning ceremonies with a lengthily gap in between is also hard on you and your wedding party as the day is already long enough without drawing it out further. 

2. Ceremony Location -  It's not always possible to coordinate your ceremony location with that of your reception venue because sometimes a particular church or desired venue may quite simply not be in the same area of town as your preferred reception venue, however, keep it in mind so that in the event that you do have control over the matter you can make it that much more wonderful for your guests and the overall flow of the day.  And on that note... Hosting a ceremony in the morning/early afternoon at the same venue as the evening reception, but asking guests to leave and return later should be avoided if at all possible.

3. Cocktail Hour...ZZZ - Super extended cocktail periods are no fun for anyone!  Get the party started on a high note and keep the momentum going!  Typically an evening reception will start at 6:00pm with champagne and/or a hosted bar and maybe some light hors d'oeuvres.  An hour is typically a good length of time for guests to arrive, get their bearings, grab a drink, and chat with a few friends before heading in to dinner.  The maximum length of time should be 1.5 hours.  2 Hours is too long -- no ifs, ands, or buts.  In the event a cocktail period needs to go longer (i.e. you are on a remote island or hosting a destination wedding) arrange for some entertaining elements like lawn games, board games, live entertainment, photo booths, interactive guest book stations, etc.  It will at the very least allow guests to remain engaged.

4. Cough it up for the Cash Bar!  Weddings are no place for a cash bar.  If you were hosting the wedding in your home you would never dream of charging guests to pay for their own drinks or pay a cover charge and this is no different.  Now, I realize that some people have to invite everyone they have ever met to their wedding (and a few friends of those people just to be nice) and simply cannot pay for everyone to run a muck on your tab for 6-8 hours.  Fair enough.  So... my first suggestion is to limit the number of guests invited, or limit the bar offerings (i.e. no doubles, no shooters, no top shelf, etc.) or opt for a brunch, late night dessert, or lunch reception.  For some, cash bars are typical in their social circles and for others it's unheard of so you need to do what's right for you.  In any case there is always room for good manners so regardless of the need to incorporate a cash bar into the night's line up, do right by your guests and ensure that some sort of drinks are being hosted at various points of the night.  

Perhaps flip over to a cash bar after dinner, once you have had the opportunity to receive your guests and treat them to a drink or two and a nice glass of wine with dinner.  Also, it's never okay to allow your Wedding Party to pay for their own drinks.  Arrange drink tickets with the venue or a an all access stamp for those designated VIP individuals.  It's just the right thing to do given all the money they have invested in your day.  Typically a bridesmaid will spend anywhere from $500-$1000.00 once the dress, shoes, hair, make-up, gifts, stagette, and spa treatments are factored in!

5. Please keep your priorities straight. Forgoing proper hosting etiquette so that you can have pretty chair covers and/or charger plates is not okay.  Yes, a good looking room is very important and is one of the most fun parts of creating a wedding event to remember, BUT not at the expense of your guest's enjoyment.  Luxury decor and a designer gown will not be remembered fondly if guests had to pay for their drinks and eat rubbery chicken. It's all relative.  Treat yours well. 

Wedding Planner signing off!  Until next week… keep those questions coming in!  Submit your questions by emailing us at askaplanner@dreamgroup.ca

Cheerio,

Genève

Click here to See Inside the Book

Genève McNally, Principal Planner, DreamGroup Productions

Genève first began her wedding career in 1999 as the Catering Manager for one of Vancouver’s most sought after wedding venues, Brock House Restaurant.  In 2004 Genève and college friend Sarah Shore ambitiously started up what is now one of Vancouver's longest running and most trusted wedding planning companies, DreamGroup Productions Inc.

These days, in addition to working with her clients in a full planning capacity, Genève focuses her attention on the sales and marketing aspects of the company and is most often the friendly voice you will chat with when first inquiring with DreamGroup.  Genève is known to inspire and excite both clients and industry associates alike with her exuberant personality and joie de vivre!  Her ability to be refreshingly candid and her in depth knowledge of the wedding industry have earned her the friendly moniker “Two-Cents McNally”.  Genève also teaches the Wedding Planning classes offered through the dg Academy and is the chief correspondent behind DreamGroup's weekly Blog feature Ask a Planner.

Click here to sign up for DreamGroup's Mailing list! 
We promise to inspire, inform and indulge!