Hello!

Well, since I’m sitting here on vacation, I’m playing catch up on all the weddings I haven’t had the chance to blog about yet… Lily and Alex came to me from New York City with the vision of a romantic wedding in an apple orchard. They also really wanted this orchard to be on Île d’Orléans, which was where Alex had taken Lily shortly after they had started dating.

So, after a first trip to the island to find the perfect orchard; another trip to the island to find the perfect spot on the perfect orchard; a trip to New York where Lily and I got very decently drunk; and a wedding day setup that began at dawn and left me covered in dust and bugs… Here are my fave pics of the day!

Photography: Irene Suchocki

Venue: Domaine de la Source Marguerite

Decor design and coordination: Unity Weddings

Hey hey!

In my line of work, I get all sorts of clients. Some brides are lovely, some are a little less. Some are very picky, and some are very easy-going. Some are creative and some have no clue when it comes to what they like. And then, there are brides like Annalie. Let me tell you, this girl has got it going on!

I first met Annalie when she was opening her own wedding photography studio {Annalie Young Photography}. We hit it off right away over Starbucks lattes, and she’s been regularly photographing my weddings ever since. And then, on a day like any other, she called and asked if I would be her wedding planner. What kind of question was that, I asked? Of course I would! This lovely lady is not only a talented photographer, she is also gorgeous inside and out, and has since become a very dear friend of mine. Oh, and of course the world being as small as it is, it turned out her fiancé and I had gone to high school together…

Annalie and Haig wanted a ceremony and reception that would be uniquely them. From the ceremony performed by one of their friends, to the cocktail format of the reception, every piece of this intimate affair had to be a perfect representation of who they are as a couple. Despite some hurdles along the way, Annalie and I happily shopped away for the perfect antique plates while the groom-to-be {an engineer} designed and built the hanging-mason-jar-filled-frame for their ceremony backdrop.

And when the day finally rolled around, it was candlelit and romantic, and filled to the brim with tears, emotion, and ridiculous amounts of love. Photographed by their good friends Davina+Daniel, here are my favorite snapshots of the day.

Photography: Davina+Daniel

Venue: La Vieille Brasserie

Linens: Celebrations

Makeup: Jessica Cohen

xoxo

Hello!

This past September, I had the incredible privilege of designing and coordinating the wedding of a pretty challenging couple. Don’t get me wrong, this bride and groom were absolutely adorable and a pleasure to work with, but they also knew their stuff, knew what they wanted, and most importantly knew that the stuff they wanted was a tad different, very thought-through, and very them.

This lovely couple has requested that all vendors involved respect their privacy, which I very much admire given the intimate nature of a wedding. So, without giving them or any of their guests away, here are my very favorite detail shots from this affair.

And the incredibly talented lineup of peeps for this wedding was…

Venue: Parisian Laundry

Photography: Tim Chin Photography

Huppah: The Canopy Company

Furniture: Sofa To Go

Lighting: Kloda

Flowers: Alain Simon Fleurs

Food: Chez L’Epicier

Cakes: Luisa Galuppo Cakes

Cake pops: Sophie Sucrée

Artwork on display graciously loaned by Parisian Laundry, by Rick Leong

Canvas menu and stationary by Unity Weddings

xoxo

Hello, hello!

So, my hands are kinda shaky as I’m typing this up, because I’m about to share something oh-so-exciting. As most of you know by now, Azar from Principal Planner and I are good friends. We spend so much time {and coffee} gabbing entire nights away -obviously about weddings, and decor, and flowers- that we finally decided “hey, why don’t we design something together?”

Not a lot of people are as lucky as we are. Being creative in life and actually being able to make a living out of it is a blessing of its own, but getting to collaborate with someone you think is genius? Now that’s just perfection.

So, after a particularly caffeinated night, and with the help of some paper and coloring crayons, here’s what we came up with! Oh, and before you get to ogle the beautiful pictures, a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the shoot! Photos by Davina+Daniel, venue by the Loft Hotel, rentals by Celebrations, flowers by Alain Simon Fleurs, cakes and sugar flowers by Sophie Sucrée, and macaroons by Dolci Piu.

Oh, and obviously, creative design and concept by Principal Planner and Unity Weddings.

Hello,

I recently inherited a beautiful Ikea Ung Drill frame from my brother. Which is awesome. But I already had one, and I live/work in the tiniest of lofts. Which means that wherever you look, you can see both at the same time {and they weren’t hanging side by side like common sense would dictate}. So I came home late last night from a creative brainstorming session, and decided to do something about it.

The idea was very simple. I often encourage my brides to display their seating cards in a way that has more oomph than regular {i.e. boring} tent cards. One of the many ways of doing so creatively is by pinning the cards into something mounted into a board {fabric, chicken wire, cork board…}. So I scoured my closest, and lo and behold! I found some burlap.

So… here’s my little midnight diy project! Totally easy, painless, and pretty!

xoxo

Hello!

For those of you who remember, I blogged about a month ago about my decor plans for my new little condo {if you missed it, read up here}. My dilemma was that I had to make the space pretty and cozy, while maximizing on functionality. Hey, 490 square feet is really not a lot of space to work with!

It’s now been a month, and the space is finished, for the most part. I’m still missing a gorgeous rug as well as some minor accessories, but I really wanted to share with you what it looks like right now.

To refresh your memory, this was my inspiration board:

And this is what the actual space looks like:

{the lounge area}

{the office}

What do you think?

xoxo

]]> http://unity-weddings.com/home-sweet-home-the-sequel/feed/ 0 http://unity-weddings.com/pretty-in-pink/ http://unity-weddings.com/pretty-in-pink/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:42:25 +0000 Elyna Kudish http://unity-weddings.com/?p=1438

Hello!

I really don’t know what’s wrong with me lately, as I’m not usually a very colorful kinda gal. Perhaps it’s all the gray weather… But I’m suddenly and incurably obsessed with pink. Oh yes, pink dresses, pink couches, pink pretty much everything. If I didn’t think it would make me look slightly off-balance, I would paint all my walls pink and would never leave home…

So here’s my inspiration board du jour, hoping to rub off some of that pink happiness on you!

xoxo

Hello!

How is your weekend going? I am getting ready for my big move…. I am moving next week into the cutest, tiniest, 490-square-feet condo. I mean, how minuscule is that? But hey, it’s exactly where I want it to be, it has floor to ceiling windows (light is essential when one runs a business from home), and it’s generally pretty.

I’m using this “anticipatory” time to dream up my dream decor. Most of you don’t know this about me, but I’ve always harvested a secret dream of being an interior designer. I’ve always loved playing with space, and the design element is probably one of my favorite parts of wedding planning.

So, I’ve decided, this new place will be a pilot project of sorts. I will keep you posted here on my inspirations and developments, and when it’s all said and done, y’all can decide if it’s yay or nay. For starters, here’s what I’m thinking:

The space is tiny, so I need to keep my furniture to a minimum without sacrificing functionality and usefulness. I have also decided that said furniture should be generally light in color {I mean, a black couch in there is going to feel like an elephant!}. And because said furniture will be kept to a minimum, each and every piece needs to be super pretty.

In general, here’s my little inspiration board. I’ll keep you posted on how the rest unfolds!

xoxo

Hello!

I came back from my vacation 2 weeks ago, with my head and my heart filled with sunshine. And guess what: we haven’t had a single nice/sunny day over here ever since.

But you know what? It’s alright. I’m donning bright pink nail polish, and in case you haven’t noticed from all my recent pics on Facebook, I’m newly and totally obsessed with florals. I mean, colored, bright, vintage, big, small… you name it, I love it. Better yet, if there’s tons of it and it’s all slightly mismatched.

Today’s inspiration board is all about the florals. Who cares that winter’s well on its way? I say dish the traditional white/feathers/grey-and-black winter themes, and surprise all your guests with a table covered in delightful and colorful flowers. Who knows? You just might end up feeling a little cheerier…

xoxo

When you’ve gone to the lengths of coordinating a wedding, planning a few extra out-of-towner meals is easy, not to mention a great way to get in some quality time with those people who travelled to be at your wedding. We hosted a few ‘do’s for our OOTs – we had a rehearsal dinner at a local brewery, a pub night after the rehearsal, and a breakfast on the morning after our wedding. All the restaurants were in close proximity to the hotel where everyone was staying, so everything was within walking distance, and at each “meal,” we got to spend time with our friends and family.

I let the out-of-towners know of the plans by making up little kits that I left with the hotel concierge – they included an itinerary of the weekend’s events as well as a city map and local sites of interest, and were handed to each person as they checked in.

Then, all I had to do was make a few reservations and my husband and I got to soak in as much time as we could with our guests who had come from far and wide to share in our special day. Plus, I think our OOTs appreciated having the option of participating in a fully-planned weekend (which they all did).

I don’t know what it is about those little courtesy baskets couples leave in the bathrooms at weddings, but I love them! It’s so fun rummaging through them to check out all the miscellaneous odds and ends, and usually, they’re displayed in such a pretty way.

Every bride wants their wedding to be “unique,” which is a tricky feat given the endless ideas that are out there. But I say the way to separate your special day from the pack: it’s all about the details.

Bathroom courtesy baskets add a special extra touch to your decor – filled with helpful toiletries and arranged in a pretty container, they make guests feel pampered and appreciated. You can place a basket in both the mens’ and womens’ bathrooms with gender-appropriate products. Include mints, gum, band-aids, Tylenol, Tums, tissues, Q-tips, deodorant, stain remover (like a stain stick), and even a lint brush in both. Give the ladies a few personal hygiene products (just in case) along with small bottles of perfume or body spray and lotion. You can even have personalized lip balms or hand cream made with labels that include the date – a really adorable touch.

Arrange the items in a basket or pail, and be sure to leave a note to invite guests to help themselves. You’ll be sure your family and friends will take notice of this extra little detail.

Who doesn’t love warm chocolate chip cookies with an icy glass of milk, hardy macaroni and cheese, sweet peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and yummy grilled cheese with tomato soup? Did I get your taste buds going yet? These maybe some of your favourites but you don’t necessarily see them on your “menu du jour” for the big day. Don’t count them out just yet…

Serving comfort foods doesn’t necessarily mean de-formalizing your wedding – all of your homemade favourites can be presented in an elegant, chic way. They don’t have to be the main course – you can offer them either as appetizers or during the midnight buffet. Spoil guests with a top-notch gourmet five-course dinner and then, after everyone’s had time to digest and work up their appetites dancing, present an incredible spread of everyone’s fave comfort foods – tasty sliders, cookies and milk, French fries, lemonade, ice cream sandwiches, cotton candy, and more. Presented in individual serving sizes, these “ordinary” foods become extraordinary.

If you and your husband-to-be are more of a “burger and fry” type of couple, then don’t restrict yourself to rack of lamb and asparagus spears. Sprinkle in a few of your favourite foods, whether it’s pasta, loaded baked potatoes, or PB&J sandwiches with the crusts cut off.

The most important meal of the day can also be the perfect menu for the most important day of your life – breakfast. Pancakes, fried eggs and toast become gourmet crepes and croissants, platters of beautiful exotic fruits and imported cheeses, and differently flavoured coffees and Mimosas. Elegant and sophisticated, breakfast- or brunch-themed weddings are intimate and fun (and can cost significantly lower per head than a sit-down or buffet-style dinner).

Everyone loves indulging in a delicious breakfast that takes place in a pretty setting, so don’t be afraid to serve “typical” morning foods – just display them in a stylish way: pedestal cake stands can be piled high with crusty rolls or fruit danish, or fill wire baskets with homemade biscuits and strawberry preserves. These can double as centrepieces. So can fresh fruit displays.

Interactive food buffets are also fun, such as a well-stocked coffee bar (maybe with a signature latte), juice bar or crepe station. If you have it within your budget you can hire a professional barista or chef to keep the lines moving (because, trust me, guests will be lining up!).

I also can’t get enough of classic comfort foods, like doughnuts, being made and served in a chic, elegant way, such as miniature individual donuts dusted with sugar or pint-sized bagels with an assortment of cream cheeses.

If you’re adventurous enough, you can go as far as setting up a mock cafe or bakery at your reception – whimsical signage can be used as menus or to direct guests on where to go. Or, I love some of the unique catering set-ups I’ve seen, like using bowls of real eggs in various sizes and colours as a part of the decor, or serving classic breakfast food, like strips of crispy bacon, by standing them up in glass mason jars.

Bon matin!

I understand the appeal of having a wedding outdoors – who wouldn’t want the natural beauty of nature to be the backdrop of their special day? Because I got married in October (in a chilly, unpredictable city like Montreal) an outdoor ‘do was a major “don’t” in my mind. But a lot of couples, especially those who live in cold climates, seize the opportunity of summer and opt for a wedding outside beneath the skies, trees or stars. And when Mother Nature decides to have a hissy fit (albeit in the form of cold, rain, or humid heat), there are a few “Plan Bs” you can prepare ahead of time to help your guests battle the elements (and put your worrying mind at ease).

In case of rain, stock up on inexpensive umbrellas – you can put them in tall umbrella stands (or even sturdy baskets) near the entryway of your ceremony. When it’s an unusually hot day, offer guests bottled water with custom-made labels or pretty paper parasols to provide shade from the scorching sun. Handheld fans are great too – they’re relatively inexpensive and come in an endless array of styles, from traditional foldable fans to beachy woven designs and even personalized paddle shapes. And finally, if a cold front is moving in on your wedding day and you’re worried guests will be chilly, warm them up by setting up a small hot chocolate bar with creamy warm cocoa, marshmallows, orange slices, and more.

Don’t let the elements beat you – if you’ve decided to have an outdoor wedding then you’ve got to expect the unexpected. With a little bit of planning, though, your outdoor party will be a hit no matter what the weather forecast.

My husband and I didn’t have a sweetheart table at our wedding. Instead (and to make my life easier with the seating arrangements) we left 1-2 spots open at most of the guests tables and, since we had a buffet meal, the two of us took turns moving around the room and sitting with different sets of family and friends. But I have attended a lot of weddings where they have had beautiful sweetheart tables set up for the bride and groom, and it made me wonder what other creative ideas were out there for these special settings.

Flowers as part of the sweetheart table setup are a given – some couples have empty vases or jars for the bridal party’s bouquets (a great way to get more use out of already-styled arrangements). Sometimes there are a few smaller specially-made arrangements placed on the table or a variety of pretty organics, including flowers, branches, moss, and even potted plants.

A sweetheart table can stand out from the other tables in the room with different (but equally gorgeous) stemware and dishware. There are “bride and groom” goblets you can buy, or details such as the addition of chargers.

I think personalized features are great for sweetheart tables. I found frames with the words “bride” and “groom” that can be placed on the backs of the chairs, or a range of differently monogrammed initials that can either be hung or displayed on the table itself.

Lighting is also key to a sweetheart table. A spotlight (or coloured light) can be projected onto your special spot, you can use candles (small tealights, medium votives or a grand candelabra), or you can erect a lighted archway over your table.

Other than the kitchen table at home, it’s not often that you and your husband will go somewhere and have a personalized, glitzified table all to yourselves. If you’ve decided to dedicate a sweetheart table to you and your groom on your wedding day, then don’t go generic – make it the dreamiest, most elegant spot that you’ve ever dined at.