Monday's Montage: Fun & Different Guest Book Ideas

 

Do you know where your wedding guest book is? Have you looked at it since your big day? My guess would be, probably not. I found some fun and different wedding guest book ideas that you may be more keen to display in your home. There are lots of ways to personalize your guest book to your wedding theme or to your personalities with photos, puzzles, decor and more.

Create and design a custom puzzle using a favorite photo or shape and have guests sign puzzle pieces.

 

 

Use 3D art and allow guest to sign, then frame and mount.

 

Guests write notes for the bride and groom which are placed in an antique bird cage for display in their home!

 

 So different! Get a bench, a chair, a table, any piece of furniture and have guests sign it.

 

 

 Guests write a personal message and place inside custom bottle.

 

My favorite!! Guests can write letters of advice or messages on post cards for the bride and groom. How cool would it be to have a different postcard from each place you've travelled together, or hope to go?

 Thumbprints are very popular on paper right now, I like this different idea of using a painted piece of wood.

 

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's Fabulous Find shows off Hotel Le Soleil

With having so many great hotels to select from in Vancouver, it can be a bit overwhelming as to which one to choose for your out of town guests who are attending your wedding.  If you are looking for a boutique style Hotel, with luxurious and amazing service, I highly recommend you take a look at

Hotel Le Soleil

Located at 567 Hornby Street, for the perfect location, with everything nearby and all the shopping available at your finger tips, you cannot go wrong.  As you walk into the front doors of the Hotel, the comfortable lobby welcomes you with beautiful scents that make you feel warm and cozy.  

As you enter, you will recognize the old world feel as though you have stepped into a lovely hotel in Europe.  Hotel Le Soleil is described as a "unique mixture of stylish sophistication and old world elegance".

The luxury hotel suites reflect Biedermeier style furniture in rich gold and crimson colors, with the full en suite boasting of Italian marble. 

 

Le Soleil's penthouse has a large balcony, perfect to host a cocktail rehearsal dinner.  All you need to do is  have your Planner bring in a DJ and Le Soleil will provide you with the bar and a delicious menu for you to select from, which comes prepared from the delicious kitchen of Copper Chimney, their in house restaurant. 

But if you have all your wedding accomodations for out of town friends and family booked, then may I suggest Hotel Le Soleil for either the Groom or the Bride and their wedding party the night before the wedding...or the Bride can get ready with her party at the Hotel.  With the location being so central, it's perfect.

At the moment, Hotel Le Soleil has amazing deals on for $99 a night!  For select dates and other specials, please click here.

 To find out more information on Hotel Le Soleil, please visit www.hotellesoleil.com  

Here's to restful nights and sweet dreams!

 

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... "You want HOW MUCH for eggs and flour?"

Hi DreamGroup,

What's the going rate for wedding cakes these days?  We've recently received some quotes from a few different cake makers ad bakeries in town and they are a little alarming to be quite honest.  I mean it's eggs and flour for goodness sake and $9.00 or more a slice seems a little high to me.  I feel like I'm being taken advantage of just because I'm getting married!!!  It's all adding up and I was kind of hoping this would be one of the lesser expensive parts of the wedding! 

Thx!
Puzzled Groom



Hello Puzzled Groom!

Your "cake" sticker shock is not abnormal, but the cost you mentioned is normal for the Urban Vancouver area.  Competitive averages tend to fall within $6-$12/slice, but it really comes down to what you are getting for the price.  Is it tasty?  Does the cake maker understand your vision?  If so, then you may actually be on the right path.  If the design you have in mind requires many hours of time and labour in creating it, you will more than likely be paying a higher price.  

Things like hand made sugar flowers, intricate design details, beading, crystals, fondant, shimmer, spray on stencil designs, additional flavours, fillings, additional tiers, etc. will all affect the final price.  As with many contracted services Time and Labour are the two elements that tend to increase the cost of anything and in this case it's your cake.  The more time and work that needs to be dedicated to creating your cake the more it's going to cost you.  It's not about the flour and eggs.

You might wish to ask each cake professional you are receiving quotes from what might be done to your ideal cake design to reduce the cost slightly as the removal of a couple more dramatic and costly elements might do the trick in bringing the cost down a touch.  You might also consider doing a smaller 2-3 tier display cake for the cutting ceremony and have a slab cake in the back to be served to guests as this will almost certainly reduce your overall cake costs. Good luck with your cake shopping!  

Wedding 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: Bridal Bouquet Trends

A bride’s bouquet speaks to her personal style and the tone of her big day. It might be elegant or classic, traditional or vintage, bright and colorful like the bride’s personality or simple and elegant. These are some of the current, popular wedding bouquet trends.

 

Brooch bouquets-One of the reasons brooch bouquets have become so popular, brides like the idea of having it as a keepsake, something they can pass down to their daughter. Some brides choose to use family heirlooms in their creations while others buy a designed brooch bouquet. However, these rang from hundreds of dollars to thousands! It’s easy and affordable to create a do-it-yourself bouquet while recycling brooches.

 

 

Texture- Everything goes when it comes to mixing different textures in the bouquet, including felt and feathers. Other items used are seashells for beach weddings, pine cones or twigs for rustic weddings and different types of ribbon to add color.

 

 

Monochromatic- Simple, classic and often more affordable since the florist needs less varieties of flowers. Whatever your style, the possibilities are endless for your Bridal Bouquet, although keep in mind, they are heavier than you think!

 

 

 

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.

Food Lovers: Friday's Fabulous Find

Finally Vancouver offers a full vegetarian restaurant, (besides the delicious Acorn located on Main Street), I dedicate today's amazing find to my food lovers and especially vegetarian lovers, bringing you a desire to visit Vancouver's largest vegetarian restaurant.  Located in the historic building that turned 100 this year, the delicious and unique restaurant Heirloom is revealed at 1509 West 12th Ave to be exact, in the heart of the South Granville District.  The restaurant welcomes you with simple yet a warm ambiance.

Heirloom describes their restaurant experience as "contemporary dining experienced with a beautiful, current menu that boats healthy, casual, interesting food from brunch and dinner, complemented by fresh witty cocktail , a respectable organic wine list and a great selection of local small craft beers".  Yes my vegan friends, there is plently for you to choose from the menu :).

With Heirloom's Executive Chef Georiga Morley designing the menu, we can experience the best of the best.  She brings her expertise as a holistic nutrition consultant and along with being a personal Chef for Chip Wilson and Henrik Sedin (to name a couple). 

Not to worry, you won't break your bank, especially those who are planning a wedding, (your Wedding Planner will be thrilled to know you aren't going into the wedding budget to dine here!).  The plates are mostly prepared for sharing typically ranging at $18 per plate, and will not be disappointed with the taste of each dish at this restaurant; yes, the meat lover in you may die after realizing how amazing vegetarian food is! 

Heirloom a great spot to meet with your wedding party, let your hair down and brainstorm ideas for the wedding over a glass of wine as you share the delicious food plates.  Or perfect for a date night with your partner to de-stress.

Date Night Tip:
The Stanley Theatre is right on Granville Street, not even a block away from Heirloom.  May I suggest, dinner at Heirloom and a show afterwards at the Stanley.  Go ahead, surprise your loved one or maid of honor (with all the hard work she/he is putting into your wedding!).  Check out this link for shows at The Stanley.

Bon a petite readers and happy date night!


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.

Ask a Planner... "Monster-in-Law?"

Hi Geneve,

You addressed a past Ask a Planner inquiry's problem with her issue of a "lazy" Maid of Honour with such care and a good dose of reality that I'm hoping you might be able to help me with my situation.  My problem involves my fiance's mom. To put it simply, I don't think she likes me. She loves her son A LOT and I can't help, but feel that she doesn't think I'm good enough for him.  She is very cold towards me and when she calls and I answer she asks to speak with "John" without even saying hello to me first.  It's so rude and I'm tired of it!  You'd think 3 years into our relationship and an engagement ring later she'd be a little kinder to the future mother of her grandchildren?!  His whole family is kind of rude to me actually, but it's the issue with my future mother-in-law that I worry about most.  I don't want to spend the rest of my life feeling this way and am not sure what I should do.  I have talked about it with my fiance, but he doesn't seem to understand how BIG a deal this is.  He says not to let it bother me!  Ha! Yeah right.  Anyway, I'm really feeling torn by this and figure I have nothing to lose by asking you what you think I might do.  

Sincerely,
Nikki



Hello Nikki,

I'm glad you emailed!  I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through this.  It has to be very frustrating.  Your fiance could be right in that you need not over think the situation, but the reality is family dynamics play a HUGE factor in the long term success of a relationship so this sort of thing should be addressed sooner rather than later.   

Sadly, no matter how much in love two people might be, family opinions do matter and can be a really tricky and in rare cases an insurmountable obstacle to overcome.  That doesn't mean that you should walk away from your life and plans... it just means you may need to take some more strategic and aggressive steps to getting to the bottom of the problem.  

Where something this serious is concerned I will ask that you receive my feedback with an open mind and be sure to discuss your feelings with your fiance first before acting on any decisions as I am offering you advice based on what I know and without the complete back story would hate to think you would act on anything I said too hastily. 

Here's what I would do... First, talk again with your fiance (when you know you have his full attention) and explain how worried you are about the situation and the affect it could have on your future.  Perhaps if he understands just how serious this issue is he will be able to work with you better to come up with a solution.  He could be brushing it off because he knows his family better than you and really thinks it's a non-issue OR it could be that he just doesn't want to face the fact that his family may not be as crazy about you as he is.  Either way, it warrants further discussion between the two of you. 

Once you have determined just how serious the issue actually is I would do one of two things:

If together you determine that it's most likely not as personal or dire as you first thought then your next steps might include calling up his mom and ask her to join you for a coffee, a glass of wine, or a pedicure some time!  I'm not suggesting you become best friends, but it is very possible that her standoffish behavior could just be that she doesn't know how to break the ice with you and doesn't realize how rude she is being in the process.  There is a lot to be said for being the first to extend the olive branch or invitation!  Maybe if she sees that you are making an effort to get to know her she will in turn open up.

Now, in the event that this just doesn't feel right and you both know deep down there's more to it than simply a misunderstanding, then I think "John" might need to have a few words with his mom privately about how her behavior is affecting you and your relationship.  In my opinion, if he truly loves you and wants to spend the rest of his life **happily** with you he will have the guts to stand up for you and try and make things better.  This sort of thing should not be ignored.

I wish you the very best as you deal with this situation Nikki.  I would love to know how things turn out for you.  Stay in touch! :O)

Wedding 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: For the love of Rock & Roll

Do you and your soon-to-be share a love of classical, jazz, rock 'n roll, or just music in general? I'm sure you will invest in an awesome band, or fantastic DJ for your wedding night. There are also other creative and affordable ways to showcase your love of music and sites like Etsy make it a breeze.

Now you can infuse vintage sheet music and musical notes, and quotes from your favorite bands or songs, all throughout your wedding ceremony and reception! Take a look at these handmade treasures below to see what I mean. If you're an expert at crafts, you could create these on your own!

These song request cards will really be appreciated when it's loud and the party is in full force!

 

Cool guys wear Cool Cuff Links, don't you agree?

 

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.