Happy New Year!

Another fabulous year has come and gone. I am grateful for all of the adventures and accomplishments of 2008 and hope 2009 brings much happiness, peace and love to everyone.

In celebration of this special day I thought I would share some stunning images from Kristina and Ben's New Year's Eve wedding photographed by Alberta's own Whitley Goodman Photography one year ago today. This talented duo is based out of Edmonton, AB which is the perfect setting for a snow blanketed park in which to capture a romantic sunset image such as the one pictured below.

Cheers to the New Year and happy first anniversary Kristina and Ben!

All images courtesy of Whitley Goodman Photography blog.

Contest

Don't forget to enter my CONTEST for a chance to win 16 Personalized Out-of-Town Welcome Bags for your guests. The contest closes December 31, 2008.

Personalize Your Wedding Garter

If you are looking for a simple project to personalize your wedding day and pay tribute to your new hubby at the same time, consider making (or buying) a custom garter. There are countless online retailers who can create garters to suite your specific needs. If you have a little time on your hands and want to save a few dollars, why not make one yourself?

If you’re looking for a simple and inexpensive way to personalize your garter without any sewing involved check out this one I created to pay tribute to my hubby’s love of hockey, specifically the Calgary Flames. To create this garter I purchased an inexpensive plain white garter from the dollar store, made two bows incorporating the Flame’s theme colours and attached them to the garter using a Calgary Flames pin. This was a great no-sew project that totaled less than $10.00.
Here is a link to a site with simple DIY instructions if you are feeling a little crafty. This would be great if you want to incorporate fabric in specific colours. You could also use remnants from your dress or you could create one using fabric or lace from your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding dress to add your “something old” and create an extra special keepsake.

Just Married

Announce your new "Just Married" status in a big way! I love these images from Whitney Lee via Offbeat Bride. Think outside of the box and find distinct ways to express your unique personalities...after all it is YOUR big day.

Real Wedding - DIY Masterpiece

Check out this amazing real wedding that was recently featured on Once Wed. I absolutely LOVE everything about this DIY inspired celebration. The bride and groom infused their wedding celebration with elements reflective of their personalities, interests and dating history to create a one-of-a-kind celebration that was fun and fabulous.

Win a Free Portrait Session in Calgary!

If you are located in Calgary (or planning to visit anytime soon) swing by t law photography's blog to enter a contest to win a free one hour portrait session. It's super easy to enter and who doesn't love free stuff? To learn more about Terence's style and what kind of pictures you can expect check out t law photography's website here.

Personalize Your Wedding Day Attire

Here are a few ideas to personalize your wedding day attire and even add in your “something blue” to boot!

1. It's important to wear something comfortable and easy to remove for the morning of while you are busy getting ready. Why not have a custom hoodie made to mark the occasion? There are many suppliers who offer “Soon to be Mrs. Smith” or "Future Mrs. Smith" hoodies for just this occasion. My personal favourite are the ones that say your new name and Est. with your wedding date as pictured on Knottie OKCBride2B below. This way you can wear them long after the wedding day!

2. Have your monogram and wedding date or your new name embroidered in blue and then have it sewn into your dress. If you decide not to keep your wedding dress you can always keep this little memento of your special day. Alternatively you could have your monogram embroidered in blue onto your garter. Just be sure this one doesn't get tossed!

Monogrammed dress tag: Knottie meg&ksexton via Wedding Bee

Dress tag featuring new name: Jason Angelini Photography

Monogrammed Garter: Knottie meg&ksexton

Add a little dazzle to the under side of your wedding shoes by applying blue rhinestones. You could include your monogram, your wedding date or a cute little message such as "I Do!"

Rhinestone embellished shoes: Inspired Goodness

Keep in mind that monogramming CAN go too far. I once saw a picture where the bride had large monogams embroidered across the tops of the bridesmaid dresses. Just say no to this kind of idea! I wish I could locate the picture for your viewing pleasure but alas I can't recall where I saw it.

Beyond the Candy Buffet

Candy Buffet: Amy Atlas via Blush

Popcorn Buffet: via Once Wed

Cookie Buffet: Rebecca Thuss

The candy buffet has become hugely popular at weddings during recent years. Guests young and old seem to line up in droves to get in on the action of selecting their favourite sweet treats. If you are looking for an alternative to this wedding favourite think about other foods you really love that are sure to be a hit with your guests as well. How about a popcorn buffet where you can offer both sweet and savory selections? Cookie buffets are another great option. You could bake some of your favourite family recipes and even provide the recipes for guests eager to reproduce the delectable treats at home. If you are a chocolate lover why not think beyond the fountain and create a delicious display of truffles that would make anyone's mouth water. I'd love to hear your ideas.

DIY Monogram Door Hanger

Monogram door hanger: Thrifty Decor Chick's blog
Monograms continue to play a popular role in wedding design elements. Check out this great DIY version that is perfect for hanging on your front door over the holidays or could be adapted to fit your wedding theme by using moss or flowers instead. If you are going for something more rustic you could shape your initials out of a coat hanger and then attach twigs to complete the look. For something truly simple, just paint the cardboard letters in your colours and viola, you are done! Enjoy!

Contest!!!

Tis the season of giving and in honour of that we are launching our first giveaway contest here at Inspired Occasions. The winner will receive 16 Personalized Out of Town Welcome Bags for their upcoming wedding. This prize pack will be customized to include your wedding colours and personalized with your monogram and wedding date on the front of the bag, personalized water bottle labels with your wedding colours and monogram or picture, chocolate bars wrapped in your wedding colours personalized with your names and wedding date, and welcome brochures to let your guests know about the upcoming festivities and provide details with your recommended best sights and tastiest eats in the city. This prize is valued at over $100.00.

The contest is open to residents of Canada and the U.S.A. and closes December 31, 2008 so be sure to get your entry in early. A winner will be selected by Inspired Occasions and announced by January 7, 2009.

To enter send an email to terra@inspiredoccasions.ca. Be sure to write CONTEST in the subject line. Include your wedding date along with a brief description of you and your fiancé, your vision for your upcoming wedding day and why it’s important for you to welcome your guests in style.

Monogrammed Welcome Bag and Personalized Water Bottle: Inspired Occasions

Personalized Chocolate Bar: Inspired Occasions

Out of Town Welcome Brochure: Inspired Occasions

Out of Town Welcome Bags

A Welcome in Grand Style Via All Things Lovely

Welcome Bags Four Ways Via The Destination Diva

Comforts of Home Welcome Bag via Better Homes and Garden

If you are hosting a destination wedding then it is likely that all of your guests will be travelling to help you celebrate your special day. Even if you are having a local wedding you will probably have many out of town guests travelling from near and far to help you celebrate your wedding. Given this, more and more couples are opting to host events throughout the wedding weekend. Some choose to host a cocktail reception to welcome guests or a casual BBQ a day or two before the wedding. Another common event is the day after brunch, often hosted by a relative of the couple. Another increasingly popular trend is the Out of Town (OOT) Welcome Bag or Basket. These can be simple or extravagant depending on your budget, number of OOT guests and your wedding theme. What a wonderful greeting for your guests to arrive in their hotel room after a long journey to find a bag or basket filled with some water and snacks along with information about the weekend's festivities and local area attractions.

For a beach wedding, you may also consider including: sunscreen, flip flops, and a beach towel and then package it all in a handy beach tote

For a local wedding, why not add some local treats that can only be found in your city such as specialty chocolate, local coffee or nuts, etc.

For a winery wedding, you might want to include a bottle of chardonnay or merlow from the local region or better yet from the winery where your nuptials will be held

To help guests feel at home you could include: slippers and a book or some magazines

To ensure your guests feel pampered you could create a spa themed welcome basket with a scented candle, body lotion, a CD with soothing music and a comfy pair of pj's

Personalize Your Reception...Part 1

Engagement Photo Table Number via Inspired Occasions

Picture Table Number Through the Years - The Knot via Julie Jelliffe

Wine Bottle Table Number via Martha Stewart

House numbers via Brooklyn Bride

Rhinestone Table Number via Wedluxe

Decoupage Table Numbers Ashley Bartoletti Photography

I often get asked for ideas on how to personalize wedding receptions so that it is a true reflection of the couple. The truth is their are so many things couple's can do to personalize their special day and you don't need a huge budget to pull it off. A little creativity can go a long way. Today I will share some simple ways to personalize your reception by using unique table numbers. Below are just some ideas to get your creativity flowing:

1. Photos. You could showcase your engagement photos, utilizing a different photo at each table. You could show off your cute fur babies by taking different pictures of your dogs or cats for each table. You could use childhood pictures and coordinate the age you were in the picture with the table number. These are just some ways to incorporate pictures...I'm sure you can think of some great ideas too!

2. Love! You could name each table love in a different language. (Ex. Adore (French), Ai (Chinese), etc.) or you could incorporate different love quotes into each table number. Why not include your monogram and wedding date too for extra personalization?

3. Hobbies. Why not name each table after some of your favourite hobbies. You could even include a brief description about whose hobby it is and why you enjoy it. (Ex. Photography, Swimming, Fishing, etc.)

4. Travels. You could name each table after places you've travelled. You could even use a picture from the location or a postcard if you have one.

5. Famous People. You could name each table after different famous couples, different famous people you admire, etc.

6. Wine. If you are serving wine at your wedding, you could have the bottle double as a table number. You could personalize the number label with the same colours and design you used on your invitations or even use pictures, as described in #1. If you are a wine lover, you could name each table after different kinds of wine (Ex. Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlow, etc.)

7. Significant Numbers/Dates. (Ex. the day you met, the year you are getting married, the age you were when you first started dating, the house address you grew up at, etc.)

8. Incorporating Your Design Scheme. If you are having a rustic affair, why not use wooden numbers or old metal house numbers? If you want a lot of bling, you could create rhinestone encrusted table numbers. If you are going for a casual but pretty theme, you could decoupage numbers in papers that compliment your colour scheme.

Winter White

There is something about the first snowfall that is immensely romantic. The glimmer of the freshly fallen snow and the the way the world seems to slow down when covered in a blanket of white. Although rich reds are often associated with the season and certainly bring an element of warm to the room, there is something so classic and romantic about an all white wedding that it's worth considering in any season. Inspired by the elements, I thought I would post a few pictures in celebration of the classic nature of white with some bling thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

Bouquet: Beckers Blog via Fresh Floral Art

Dress: Jim Hjelm

Cake: Project Wedding

Love is in the Details...

Claire Cocheme, a local photographer here in Calgary, was kind enough to send over this gorgeous montage of images she captured at the recent wedding of Jenna and Mike held at the Palliser Hotel. Red roses are a classic symbol of love...how romantic. I think these details would be perfect for an upcoming Christmas or Valentine's inspired wedding too! If you haven't checked out Claire's blog lately, definitely stop by. She has captured some amazing images this fall with the changing colours and gorgeous sunlight. Pure bliss....

Shoes, Glorious Shoes!!!

One of the current trends we are seeing in the wedding industry is brides (and grooms) opting for footwear choices that are not only fun, but also functional. It's your day and you can do what ever you want. Why not opt for a sassy pair of red pumps that you'll be sure to wear again or some smoking hot blue heels that can double as your something blue? Your footwear can be a perfect opportunity to express your personality! Is comfort a top priority? Why not opt for something completely nontraditional like converse sneakers? They come in a variety or colours to suit any scheme and if nothing else the guys are sure to love them.

Red and Blue Shoes: via Borrowed or Blue Blog

Yellow Shoes: Jonathan Canlas via The Brides Cafe

Converse Shoes: Lindsey Janies Photography

Wedding Cinematography

If you haven't already, stop by and check out the work of the immensely talented duo at Confetti Films. Nicole and Trevor are truly passionate about what they do - creating contemporary and artistic cinematic wedding films that focus on your unique story. Films can showcase your wedding day in a way that still life photography can't...capturing not only the sights but also the sounds. There is nothing cookie cutter about what these two do and if you are looking for a film that is truly inspired then you definitely have to check them out. Not only do they deliver an amazing product, they are also two of the nicest people that you could hope to work with. Don't forget to check out their blog to view their latest work. Stay tuned for details about an exciting new venture they are taking on along with an amazing contest.

Personalized Water Bottles

The trend towards personalization has never been stronger. One area we are seeing this trend is with personalized water bottles for engagement parties, weddings, stagettes, baby showers, birthday parties and more! Everyone appreciates water, especially on a hot summer day or in their hotel room upon arrival for your special event. Why not go the little extra step and personalize it with your event colours, date, monogram or even a picture! Inspired Occasions offers a DIY service where you can purchase up to 4 custom designed water bottle labels for one low price and them print and assemble them yourself, or purchase the bottles already assembled, whichever you prefer! When you order a design from Inspired Occasions, the nutritional information on the back is even tailored to the theme of your event and your names and event date are added to the bottom of the bar code. Visit the boutique to check out more water bottle designs.

Wine Bottle Favours

If you are looking for a creative and unique gift or favour idea for your upcoming wedding, check out these custom designed wine bottles. They are perfect for weddings but would also be great for birthdays, anniversaries and more. I first came up with this idea when working with a couple who was trying to find a unique way to incorporate their engagement pictures into their wedding. I used some of their favorite images to decorate the front of the bottle, compete with their names and vintage (the year they first became a couple). After learning a few more details about them, I wrote out their unique love story incorporating touching and humorous elements alike and used this on the back on the bottle. These are great gift for family members, your wedding party, in Out of Town (OOT) Welcome Baskets, or to use at your rehearsal dinner. If you're crafty, you can try making them yourself or you can stop by Inspired Occasions' boutique to see more samples of wine bottles we have created for other clients and to receive a quote.

Amazing Photography

Chad and Erin Fuller, the talent behind Fuller Edge Photography, have just posted pictures from Jamie and Carey's August 31, 2008 wedding on their blog. These two are fiercely talented and their work is pure eye candy. Check out the stunning images here. If you are searching for the perfect photographers to document your special day with a modern and EDGY flair, I highly recommend you check these guys out. They are fantastic to work with.

Behind the Scenes

Pulling a wedding day together seamlessly takes a lot of skill and organization. There are countless details to attend to, leading up to and throughout the wedding day. Among other things, it requires a great deal of energy and the ability to think on your feet. Here I am with my fabulous assistant, Laura Hit, working on reception centerpieces for a recent wedding coordinated by Inspired Occasions. To have any event run as smoothly as possible requires a team of talented professionals. Laura was a huge help for this Wild Wedding. She came all the way from Medicine Hat to work on this wedding with me and I can't thank her enough. Laura is also a professional wedding planner and owns Noteworthy Designs, an event planning and custom stationery company located in Medicine Hat, Alberta. If you are located in the Medicine Hat area and are looking for a skilled, experienced and talented event planner or stationer, Laura is your woman! Check out her website at www.noteworthydesigns.ca to learn more.

Wild Wedding...Part 1

Carey and Jamie put so much heart and soul into the planning of their wedding day with personal touches throughout. The groom hand built all of the benches that guests sat on during the ceremony and the bride's family planted ample sun flowers to be used as isle decor. The personalized details were endless and extended throughout the reception as well. This was definitely a one-of-a-kind wedding!

The scenic ceremony took place at the bride's family's ranch outside of Calgary. For those of you in Calgary or surrounding areas, you know that we were greeted with snow on August 31st. The rain, snow (and subsequent mud) did not deter the many guests, who were eager to witness the union of Carey and Jamie and in fact it served to make the day that much more memorable. For some brides seeing snow on the morning of their (outdoor SUMMER) wedding day would be cause for a melt down. Not this bride. Carey took it all in stride and amazed all of her guests AND her groom by travelling to the ceremony site on the back on one of her beloved horses. Talk about a grand entrance!