The NEW DreamGroup Blog

As of January 2013, we will be publishing our blogs through the DreamGroup website.  Please check out all of the great weddings, inspiration and advice we have to share.

Happy New Year!

Monday's Montage: Holiday Hairstyles!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!! Eggnog, Family time, Turkey, Classic Movies, Michael Buble's Christmas Album on repeat.. I hope everyone enjoys the holidays!! With all of the visiting and Christmas Spirit this week, ensure you look your best with these cute festive hair styles.

 

And I dare someone to please show off this Reindeer Sock Bun. Merry Christmas!!

 

 

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.

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.

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

We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Ask a Planner... "Do Good Things, Think Good Thoughts."

Hello Lovelies...

I am taking a little break to spend some quality time with my family and will resume Ask a Planner on January 9, 2013.

In the meantime, here are a few things I encourage you to do over the Holidays...

1. Bundle up warm and take a walk at night in your neighborhood and enjoy the beautiful houses adorned with lights!  It's very inspiring.

2. Call or visit someone unsuspecting and tell them how much they mean to you.  You could literally make someone's year a little brighter.

3. Go to your closet and grab an old scarf or blanket.  Head to your favorite coffee shop and buy a coffee and a sandwich.  Give the scarf, the coffee, and the sandwich to someone in need. It's a small gesture that will no doubt make two hearts a little warmer if only for a moment.

4. Buy yourself something you've been wanting.  You deserve it.

5. Take a moment to be truly thankful for the life we live here in Canada.  We have it so good.


Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Planner signing off!  Until next YEAR darlings!  And don't be shy!  Submit your questions by emailing us at askaplanner@dreamgroup.ca

XOXO
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 and raising her two wonderful boys Harrison and Campbell with her husband, 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!

 

Monday's Montage: Flower Girl and Ring Bearer Ideas

Are you lucky enough to have little ones involved in your big day? Some of the silliest, sweetest and most unpredictable moments often come from the flower girl and ring bearer’s innocence and playfulness. Its so much fun to see photographers capture the flower girls and ring bearers in candid and posed moments that demonstrate their personalities.

 

 

If the ring bearer and flower girl are prone to restlessness, have them sit with their families rather than standing for the wedding. If your ring bearer is fairly young, you may feel safer putting fake rings on the pillow and have your best man hold the real rings. By preparing your ring bearer and flower girl as best as you can during the rehearsal, you can ensure that the wedding goes smoothly and that they understand their special duties for the ceremony and feel super important. Regardless of any mad dashes or adorable slip ups, you can count on them to break the ice and melt everyone's heart.

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.

Ask a Planner... "Party Panic!"

Hello DreamGroup ~

This question is not wedding related, but I hope you can still help.  I am hosting a Christmas party in my home in a couple weeks and I wonder what etiquette says about who should be invited.  I was married last year and my husband and I don't have enough space in our townhouse to invite everyone we invited to our wedding (which was 180 people)!  Is it rude not to invite all the people that we invited to our wedding?  We can't afford to rent a hall and make this huge.  Our intention was just to have a nice intimate 50-60 person cocktail gathering at our home.  I had not even thought much about it, but then my mom asked if I was inviting my cousin and her husband and their kids...  all of a sudden I got scared!

Thanks for your advice,
Lesel


Hi Lesel,

Thanks for your question.  Everyone is very busy at this time of year and have tons of things to do, people to see, and parties to attend.  I think your plan to invite those friends and family that are closest to you on a day to day basis is more than acceptable.  Not every party you host has to include everyone you know!  

Weddings are the exception where a greater list of people may be expecting an invitation, but even then many couples are choosing to keep their weddings intimate these days.

In my experience, the best parties (Christmas or otherwise) are best enjoyed when the numbers are intimate and the food, drinks, atmosphere, and entertainment are kept thoughtful and stylized.  Stick with your initial plan and have a fabulous party!  

Planner signing off!  Until next week darlings!  And don't be shy!  Submit your questions by emailing us at askaplanner@dreamgroup.ca

XOXO
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 and raising her two wonderful boys Harrison and Campbell with her husband, 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!

 

Monday's Montage: Kid Friendly Wedding

It's inevitable, during the quietest moment on your wedding day when you are exchanging your vows at the altar with all eyes on you, or the maid of honour is giving her emotional toast at dinner, a child will scream. Or stomp. Or jump on the seat. Or begin to cry. I've seen it happen every time, and met loads of honorable husbands who quickly rush them out of hearing range and miss most of the wedding. I have a mega soft spot for babies and would happily hang out with them all day if I could. It's hard to put "Adults Only" in your invitation with the risk of your close friends not being able to make it because they have little ones. If everyone is welcome, here are a few idea's to create a kid friendly wedding. Happy children, calm enjoyable wedding.

 

Send children on a photo scavenger hunt with this game of i-spy!
They have to spot a variety of typical wedding day occurrences / outfits and tick them off on their list and capture it with their disposable camera. This works really well for older children 7-11 who will be able to do this independently. Available as a free download from Martha Stewart Weddings…how great is that?!

Here are some items to include in a child’s goody bag (suitable for ages 3-6)
The aim is to provide toys and activities that aren’t noisy and don’t require close adult supervision, so avoid very small items and steer clear of musical instruments…obviously. Bubbles, treats, crayons, colouring books, playdough and finger puppets can be purchased really inexpensively from your local dollar store.

Activity books are fantastic for keeping the little ones occupied during the long dinner. There are many resources online if you’d like to make your own free and charming colouring pages and activity books you can print at home Lovely Indeed, Crayola, Print Activities, Printables For Kids

 

Expecting many children at your wedding? Why not give their parents a break and let them really relax with a glass of wine and enjoy your celebration. Brandi from Nannies on Call is a phenomenal help to have. Whether she sits with all children at a separate table, ensuring they are all fed and well behaved, or in a completely separate room where they can be as loud as they want and have so much fun together. She comes equipped with toys and games and loving care for all ages.

 

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.