Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

Friday, June 22, 2012

Friday's Fabulous Find brings you something to watch!

I know it can be overwhelming with which videographer to use to capture all of the special moments in your wedding.  You might ask yourself, "who can I trust?"  There are a lot of amazing videographers in our city!  I would like to share one of them with you:


Since 2006, Realistically Fictional Productions (RF Productions) has collaborated with countless couples around the world in documenting their wedding with modern, cinematic elegance. An eclectic troupe of young and creative videographers, photographers, and producers has helped RF Productions distinguish itself from other wedding videography and photography vendors in Vancouver.



To showcase just some of the work RF Productions, check out their website:

and click here to watch the lastest video rf Productions created for this DreamGroup Wedding! 


If you are anything like me and you can watch wedding video's for hours on end, why not have it be yours!



I know some clients ask "do we really need a videographer if we have a photographer?"

Here are some reasons to hire a videographer:

  1. You won't miss what happend on your wedding day - There is a lot happening on your wedding day and some things you will miss because you might be getting pictures during cocktail reception. Or not be able to see what happened during the "getting ready" process before the ceremony, etc.  A video ensures you wll see the moments you may have missed.
  2. To re-live your wedding day experience - To watch the beautiful memories again.
  3. Your kids and grandkids will watch it and love it!
  4. A video will show movement and the different sounds that filled your day, especially with those who you love dearly; parents and grandparents.

Happy Watching...



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.


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!



     

     


Monday, June 18, 2012

Monday's Montage: Tips for the Father of the Bride

With Father’s Day just passed, I thought I would focus on the importance of the Father of the Bride, also known as the FOB. Even though he won’t be the one saying “I do” at the altar, the father is one of the most important and special members of the wedding party. As the FOB, you want to make sure you’re well prepared and looking extra dapper, especially since you’ll probably be the one walking your little girl down the aisle!



Check out our five helpful tips for the Father of the Bride:

1.) Put Your Best Foot Forward: Make sure you’re prepared for the father-daughter dance.  If you're unsure of how to dance, or worried about your Waltz, take some lessons or make time to practice with your princess.


2.) Raise a Glass: Prepare your speech ahead of time.  You don’t want to seem as though you’ve memorized it word for word, speak from the heart and everything will fall into place.

3.) Play Your Part: This means being there from day one, as involved or uninvolved as your daughter would like you to be. Whether it’s going to the cake tasting, helping with money planning, or being a shoulder to cry on.


4.) Don’t Go Overboard: Expect to be very popular this evening. Every guest will be excited to congratulate you and celebrate with a drink or two. Remember to keep count of how many glasses of wine you’ll be sipping on, I'm sure the last thing you want is to get too tipsy, grab the mic and possibly say too much or break into song.

5.) Have a Blast: If you have a great planner (oh hi) you shouldn't be dealing with all of the wedding madness or coordination, make sure you take a moment to breathe and take it all in and enjoy. It’s not only a huge day for the bride and groom, but an amazing celebration and milestone for the entire family!


Cherish this moment coming up, and Happy Father's Day!!






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.





We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!


Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday's Montage: The Father Daughter Dance


The father daughter dance is such a sweet and special tradition. Some fathers and daughters have a perfect song that means something to them or represents their relationship. If you don’t already have a song in mind for your father daughter dance, here is a list of some favorites that are often used because they fit the occasion so well. The songs are sentimental and sweet, and the lyrics have been carefully inspected for their relatedness to a father-daughter relationship, or to the sentiments of your wedding day, between a father and daughter.



As – Stevie Wonder
Blessed – Elton John
Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
Child of Mine – Carole King
Cinderella – Stephen Curtis Chapman
Daddy’s Hands – Holly Dunn
Daddy’s Little Girl – Al Martino or Michael Buble
Daughter – Loudon Wainwright III
Don’t Know Much – Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville
Father And Daughter – Paul Simon
Father’s Eyes – Amy Grant
Forever Young – Rod Stewart
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Goodnight My Angel – Billy Joel
Have I Told You Lately – Van Morrison or Rod Stewart
How Sweet It Is – Marvin Gaye or James Taylor

I Hope You Dance – Leann Womack
I Loved Her First – Heartland
I Will – The Beatles
I’ll Be – Reba McEntire
In My Arms – Mark Wills
In My Daughter’s Eyes – Martina McBride
In My Life – The Beatles
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
It Won’t Be Like This For Long – Darius Rucker
Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel
Kind And Generous – Natalie Merchant
Let Them Be Little – Billy Dean or Lonestar
Little Miss Magic - Jimmy Buffet
Lullaby – The Dixie Chicks
My Girl – The Temptations
My Little Girl – Tim McGraw (personal fav)
My Special Angel – Bobby Helms
My Wish – Rascal Flatts
Ordinary Miracle – Sarah McLachlan
Parent’s Prayer – Steven Curtis Chapman
She – Elvis Costello
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Sunshine On My Shoulders – John Denver
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Thank Heaven For Little Girls – Maurice Chevalier or Merle Haggard
The Way You Do The Things You Do – The Temptations
The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
The Wonder Of You – Elvis Presley
There Goes My Life – Kenny Chesney (Sigh... must watch the music video)
There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
Through The Years – Kenny Rogers
Unforgettable – Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole
What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
When You Come Back Down – Nickel Creek
You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder
You Belong To Me – Jason Wade
You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
You’ve Got a Friend –  James Taylor
I tear up just writing this and listening to the songs again. Regardless of how many weddings I have attended and had the pleasure of coordinating, the father daughter dance gets me every time!! Take your time in choosing your song, it’s a moment your father has also been dreaming about since you were a little girl.





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.



We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!



Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Ask a Planner... "Gift Registry Rules"


Hi DreamGroup,

Is it okay to include some gift registry details with the invitation?  My mom says it’s tacky, but the friends we poled all said they like knowing where people are registered.  Also, is there a polite way to ask for money?  What do people do these days?  

Thanks!
Jennifer K.


Great questions Miss K!  

Typically, etiquette rules would strongly deter any couple from listing their registry information with their invitations as this suggests that you are expecting a gift, but seriously who doesn’t know that they are expected to bring a gift to bestow on the happy couple?  

So… I tend to agree with your friends in that it’s far more convenient to know where a couple is registered rather than having to take additional steps to track down the information.  That said, including the information with the invitation may still be too much of a political statement for some (aka your mother) so you may prefer to list the details on a wedding website if you have one or stick with the traditional method and allow family and your wedding party to enlighten inquiring minds upon request.  

With regards to the rules surrounding asking for money and if it’s acceptable to do so, this is a touchy subject for many.  The good thing to know is that these days most couples who have not registered anywhere will most often receive money as their gift, however, if there are any concerns about being gifted polyester towels or an ugly vase than a simple note on the wedding website that says something along the lines of “We are most fortunate to have everything we need for our home so if you choose to bestow a gift upon us a monetary or interactive gift would be greatly appreciated’’ is perfectly acceptable.  And there are several poems you can find online that for some make asking for money a little “cuter”.  Good luck!   

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

Cheerio,
Genève 



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.



We promise to inspire, inform and indulge!


Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Ask a Planner... "Confused about Invitations"


Hello,

I’m so excited that you have started offering this service!  I actually have a few questions about my invitations. Answer whatever you can and I’ll be most grateful.  My wedding is on August 18th.  We are having the ceremony at a church and the reception at a hotel downtown later that night.  It seems there are many possible options as far as extra cards to include and we are feeling a little confused.  Must we have a separate reception card or can we include all the information on one invitation even though there are two locations?  Also, do we need to have mailed RSVP cards or can we ask guests to RSVP by email?  Lastly, if we do have paper RSVP cards do we need to include postage stamps on the return envelopes? Thanks for your help!

Natalia S.


WOW Natalia!  These are terrific questions and I am happy to say easy to address (haha! I had to include a little invitation humour).  First of all your timing is impeccable with regards to dealing with invitations at this time as the norm for tackling the invitation order and details is about 4 months before the wedding.  So Bravo!!  

With regards to whether or not to include a separate reception card is really a case of personal preference (and also size parameters of your invitation).  If the invitation is large enough to accommodate all the details on one card then there is no reason why you can’t do so. Traditionally, the main invitation includes the ceremony details and a reception card is included separately, but there are many traditional steps that couples choose to eliminate or modify to better accommodate their needs, budget, or style. 

These days paper RSVP cards are still quite common, but some couples (who may be dealing with a late send out of invitations or perhaps are eco-conscious) are choosing to eliminate this inclusion and simply asking guests to email (and/or phone in) their RSVP.  Including a phone option is a good idea if you choose to go this paperless route as there may be some guests that are not active on email.  For the record, the RSVP reply date is commonly 4 weeks prior to the wedding date.  You should be prepared to assign someone the role of contacting guests after this date to obtain missing RSVP confirmations.

Proper etiquette guidelines suggest that you include postage for all national invites.  It is acceptable, however, to forgo postage for overseas or international invites as it’s difficult to confirm the exact postage that might be required.

Good luck with your invitation homework Natalia and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!  

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

Cheerio,
Genève 


Geneve McNally, Principal Planner with DreamGroup Productions

Genève McNally first began her wedding career in 1999 as the Catering & Sales Manager for one of Vancouver’s most sought after wedding venues.  Having coordinated over a 1,000 wedding receptions during her six years with the venue, Genève was able to gain an invaluable knowledge and insight into what it takes to make an event everything it should be with the utmost care and efficiency. 

Geneve focuses much of 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 enthusiastic, dedicated, honest, confident, and intuitive in nature.  She is known to inspire and excite both clients and industry associates alike. Genève's moniker within the company is “Two-Cents McNally” and she is known to be the one who is not afraid to speak up when there’s something important to be said and is always ready to “tell it like it is” – albeit always in kind.


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

NEW! Ask a Planner


Hello my lovelies… it’s your trusted wedding planner extraordinaire here!  Since the start of my wedding  career almost 13 years ago I have been known as the energetic, effervescent “tell it like it is” breath of fresh air that this industry needed.    
From my initial days as a Catering Manager for what was then Vancouver’s busiest and most heralded wedding venue to my current role as co-owner of one of Vancouver’s longest running and most trusted wedding planning companies, a full time wedding planner, wife, & mother of two active boys, I have had no qualms in offering the straight up honest truth when it comes to the subject I feel most strongly about…  WEDDINGS!   
Starting today (and every Wednesday from here on in) you, the knowledge seeking DIY bride (that's YOU) in search of the insight and opinion of an esteemed professional (that’s ME), can benefit from this tell it like it is planner’s years of industry experience.  
Introducing  Ask a Planner to be featured every Wedding Wednesday on DreamGroup’s highly frequented Blog where each week I will personally address the most popular question that seems to be on every bride’s mind.   
My hope in offering this free service is that you will become a smarter, more knowledgeable bride better prepared to make whatever decision you are faced with when it comes to carrying out a successful and savvy wedding planning experience.  And for those of you who are curious as to why I would choose to spend my precious (and extremely limited) time giving away the answers to the questions I am usually paid to answer… Well, the truth is I feel it is important to give back to the industry that has brought me acclamation, friendships, wonderful experiences, & considerable happiness over the past several years.   
So whether you need a dose of reality, some sober insight, or simply an honest answer about any given wedding product or service out there I look forward to enlightening you and in turn future generations of brides who will hopefully continue to visit our Blog in search of that perfect wedding truth.  
To submit your question, simply post a comment and each week I will choose one to answer.  I look forward to passing along some insight!

Geneve McNally, Principal Planner with DreamGroup Productions

Genève McNally first began her wedding career in 1999 as the Catering & Sales Manager for one of Vancouver’s most sought after wedding venues.  Having coordinated over a 1,000 wedding receptions during her six years with the venue, Genève was able to gain an invaluable knowledge and insight into what it takes to make an event everything it should be with the utmost care and efficiency. 

Geneve focuses much of 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 enthusiastic, dedicated, honest, confident, and intuitive in nature.  She is known to inspire and excite both clients and industry associates alike. Genève's moniker within the company is “Two-Cents McNally” and she is known to be the one who is not afraid to speak up when there’s something important to be said and is always ready to “tell it like it is” – albeit always in kind.


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Friday, March 30, 2012

Friday's Fabulous Find: Fit Bride


Spring has sprung! We have survived, yet again, another winter and spring is here with summer (and perhaps a summer wedding) in near sight! All that cold weather hibernation and comfort food to fend off the winter blues does not do wonders on your waistline, especially with a wedding around the corner.

Want to be a fit bride when you march down the aisle? We've got the one to follow to keep you informed and motivated to be a fit and fabulous bride.

Find strength training strategies to tighten and tone, advice to curb cravings, and recipes that are diet-friendly but don't sacrifice on taste.

Follow Women's Health Magazine's Fit Bride on her fitness journey. It's time to rev-up your routine and Fit Bride is here to help. Stay tuned every week to follow her progress!


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week

Tea Party

Are you in the planning stages of a wedding shower for a bride-to-be?

Keep it cute and chic with an elegant afternoon tea party. Think English garden party with mismatched cups and saucers, crust-less sandwiches, sweets upon sweets, and fresh florals in shades of soft pink. Consider kicking it up a notch by hiring a mobile spa to come do mani-pedis for you and the girls!

Add that extra touch, and shabby-chic detail with this fun DIY tip courtesy of the fabulous Pinterest. Follow this user-friendly step-by-step guide to create napkin roses placed in your guests' tea cups, and finish it off with a touch of greenery!


Happy DIYing!

We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week

Today's bride is a lucky bride with the advent of Pinterest! I think it's fair to say that many of you brides-to-be and those in the planning stages of a special event have taken advantage of this addicting site. You can create virtual collages of inspirational images to organize your ideas.

This particular Pin will spark your inner 'DIY-er'. A great, interactive, addition to a wedding or party is the very popular photobooth. Give it some personal flair with handmade props! Of course, mix-it-up how you wish, but here are some great ideas to get you started...


What you'll need:
  • Red and black felt
  • Home printer with ink and paper
  • White paint
  • Red electrical tape
  • BBQ skewers
  • 3/4 inch natural wooden beads
  • White spackle
  • Dark, heavy cardstock
  • Straight pins
  • Glue gun
  • Scissors
  • Wire cutters or garden clippers
Once you've collected your supplies follow these simple instructions and have some fun!

Want a photobooth to spice up your wedding or special event?
This March, DreamGroup's Giveaway is courtesy of Pixstar Photobooth Rentals. Enter for a chance to win by simply 'liking' DreamGroup on Facebook and retweeting this quote:

I entered @DreamGroup's Giveaway for a photobooth rental from @PixstarPhoto Rentals!

Good Luck!


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week


Proper etiquette, like the art of a hand written thank-you note, appears to be a dying trade nowadays. Emily Post, at the NY Times, addresses wedding manners and common oversights that can leave lasting negative impressions on friends and family.

Take a tip from this manners maven and and be sure to properly acknowledge those who have contributed to your wedding celebrations (both leading to and day-of).

  • As a rule, a couple has three months, not a year, to acknowledge their gifts.

  • Even if either the shower or wedding had a long guest list, a printed card or an individual e-mail saying: "We received your gift and will be writing soon" is in order.

Find more answers to your wedding etiquette questions here!


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

We say Vendors... You say Friendors!



Isn't it wonderful to be surrounded by creative family and friends ready and willing to roll up their sleeves and pitch in with some of the wedding planning and implementation? Or is it?

Whether you have chosen to bring on Friendors (aka Family or Friends substituting for professional Vendors) to help reduce wedding costs or simply to get them involved in the wedding there are FIVE important things to consider and rules to follow in order to increase your chances of a harmonious and happy ending.

1. Understand what you are getting yourself into and be realistic about your expectations. Just because a floral arrangement or cake design looks easy doesn't mean it is easy to recreate. Often what you loved about a particular element is the magic that it exudes in its entirety (i.e. the freshness of the flowers, the size of the arrangement, the intricacy of the icing detail, etc.) and when recreated does not often end up looking like the original professional version. Be prepared to be okay with your Friendor's version of the original idea.

2. Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! This one is huge. You must never assume that a Friendor understands what you mean unless you have specifically discussed and planned it out together. Better yet! Create a mock up of the concept and test drive the plan of action so everyone can be sure they understand exactly what is desired and expected. Pictures are worth a thousand words don't you know?!

3. Ask for a solid and sincere commitment from your Friendor. Make sure they understand what they are committing to. Many times family and friends will agree to help carry out a task or activity with the best of intentions, however, when the time comes they may not comprehend the importance of their role and can often be found to be unaccountable i.e. feels tired after a fun pre-wedding night party and assumes they won't be missed so "forgets" to show up, doesn't bring the right tools to get the job done, or perhaps shows up, but without the sense of urgency required to get the job done in time, etc.

4. You can't fire or critique a family member or best friend without compromising your relationship! So be sure the risk you are taking in appointing a Friendor into any particular role is not going to be jeopardized if a flower arrangement looks wilted or punny, the cake tastes awful or begins to melt one hour into the reception, or the first dance or ceremony processional song is wrong or doesn't start on cue.

5. Lastly, don't forget what goes up must come down! This is a point that is often overlooked and can turn what might have been a terrific DIY success story into a stressful end of the night expense and/or headache. The chair covers got put on, the floral arrangements were assembled and placed perfectly, the twinkle lights were wrapped around the pillars beautifully, but what happens at the end of the night? Most venues require that all decor and personal items be removed off the property at the end of the event. Those wonderful Friendors that volunteered their time and energy in getting everything set up are likely now exhausted and probably tipsy from a fun night of partying and in no state to spend 1-2 hours cleaning up and tearing down. The best way to avoid this common problem is to assign a separate Tear Down Team to disassemble and pack up all those fabulous decor bits & pieces (i.e. empty the water from the vases, wrap and pack them up in boxes, remove seat pads and stack rented chairs, etc.). This team should ideally be comprised of 2-4 members that have preferably refrained from drinking and are revved up and enthusiastic about working the Graveyard Shift.


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week


Be on top of the trends with these tips from The Vancouver Sun - forecasting what brides-to-be will be drawn to on their hunt for the perfect dress...

Sorry Kate, sleeves are so April 2011...
Despite the royal wedding last spring and the fashion frenzy it set off, this is not the year sleeves make a comeback on wedding dresses.

What is the most popular style of wedding dress?
The strapless gown with sweetheart necklines.

Still eager to resemble a Duchess on your wedding day and picture yourself in sleeves? Reconsider if the dance floor calls your name! Most bridal fabrics are not stretchy so brides can't raise their arms to their groom's shoulder to dance or to throw the bouquet over their heads.

Feeling fashion forward? Try small straps, cap sleeves or the illusion sleeve, which adds a sheer cover over a strapless dress.

It's below the waist however, where bridal fashion is seeing a drastic change with dynamically textured skirts influenced more by the red carpet than the big wedding. Lazaro, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta and others are playing with ways to add dimension to the skirt.

Soft hues are also popping up in shades of blush, icy blue, lavender and soft green. However, ivory is still the most popular colour of wedding gowns.

Even the faintest pastel gown can still be classic but with a modern twist, as demonstrated by blushing bride Reese Witherspoon in her blush tone dress...



We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Friday's Fabulous Find: Eventbrite


Snail mail, telephone, email, instant message, text message, Facebook, Twitter... there are endless resources to communicate and connect with friends and family. When it comes to your wedding, it is traditional to send invitations in the mail, however, if you're looking for a fun, modern and convenient option Eventbrite is right up your alley!

Who doesn't want to cut costs and maximize their time when planning a wedding, while also balancing work and daily life?

This is a great option as well when collecting information from guests. From asking food questions to providing information to out-of-town guests, Eventbrite simplifies this very tedious task!

Find out more about Eventbrite here! And check out how a San Francisco duo utilized this unconventional invite option.



We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week


Creating your guest list can be one of the most tedious and stress-inducing tasks on your wedding 'to-do' list! One of the grey areas that often comes up is, "who deserves plus one status?"

Does everyone get a plus-one? Do only guests in a serious relationship warrant a plus-one invitation? What's the right answer?

Peggy Post, a director of the Emily Post Institute and the great-granddaughter-in-law of its namesake sheds some light on this sticky situation.

  • Today's standard plus-one is someone who is married to, engaged to, living with and, yes, in a long-term relationship with the invited wedding guest. Beyond these "must invites," your plus-one decisions will be based on budget and consistency.
However...
  • If it's only a few and it's not a budget buster, you might consider asking them all.


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week... Mismatched Bridesmaids

De-clone your bridesmaids and let them walk down the aisle as individuals. This can still be considered a faux pas amongst many modern brides, but it's definitely a trend we are seeing continue to grow.


Carrie Bradshaw bravely had her three closest girlfriends be bold in evening gowns that many brides may fear could easily steal the show! However, it can demonstrate the confidence of the bride and her admiration and respect for these ladies she's chosen to have on her side to share her special day.

This look may not be for everyone, but consider the complexity and interest these different styles of dresses add to the photos. TIP: to keep some consistency, choose a colour in the same family, just in slightly different shades...





We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Tip of the Week


What sums up romance more than swaying to the perfect love song for your first dance? The DreamGroup team is well-seasoned with some of the classic swoon-worthy tunes that are very fitting for this special moment of your wedding reception...

Associate Planner, Jayleen Deelman, sheds some light on her romantic favourites!

Don't even get me started on Michael Buble... His most romantic songs are "I'm your man," "Lost," "Everything," and "You don't know me"

"I'm also obsessed with David Grey - "Be mine," Could possibly be my first dance at my own wedding, or "Sail away."

Some other romantic tunes?
  • Smash into you - Beyonce
  • Make a memory - Bon Jovi
  • Talking to the moon & Count on me - Bruno Mars
  • Love story - Taylor Swift
  • She's my kind of rain - Time McGraw
  • You're beautiful - James Blunt
  • Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Other DreamGroup favourites?
  • Home - Michael Buble
  • Rose or Wind beneath my wings - "His dearest" Bette Midler :)
  • Unchained Melody - Everly Brothers
  • Dance with my father - Luther Vandros
  • I will always love you - Whitney Houston
  • You raise me up - Josh Grobin
  • I dreamed a dream - Susan Boyle
  • Fields of gold - Sting
It's never too early to start jotting down songs for your wedding reception, especially when you are trying to narrow down your first dance together!


We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Tip(s) of the Week


Check out tips from some fabulous vendors from the Style Lounge at Style & Strut this past Sunday...








Smoothing out for your big day? Make sure to get waxed at least 2 days before any big event to allow any possible redness to pass.







DO use a bronzing powder to warm your skin tone. Using a natural bristle brush, lightly apply color to the areas of the face where the sun would naturally hit: forehead, cheeks and the bridge of the nose. If needed, apply a light dusting on your neck and chest for even all-over color, but do this before you put on your dress.

Don't use a heavy pressed powder to set your foundation. Too much powder can leave your skin looking chalky and lifeless in your wedding photos.

DO use flattering neutrals to contour and highlight your eyes. For eyeliners, stick to the classics: black, navy or brown

Don't use heavy pencils or dark shadows to define your brows. This can leave you looking stern rather than stunning.


Cutie Pie Wax Bar













"Prone to ingrowns or bumps? Try a roll-on ingrown treatment such as PFB or Tend Skin twice daily for the first 5 days after your wax. Yes, they work miracles!"



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We promise to inspire, inform & indulge!