Greetings from St. Lucia

Christina is in St. Lucia right now and will photograph Shauna & Craig's wedding in a few days (it will be set in the largest and oldest church in the Caribbean!) In the meantime, she has sent a quick snapshot showing the view from her resort balcony. Stay tuned for the wedding pics - coming soon!

Mike & Becca - Sneak Peek

Mike & Becca are getting married in September and we had a chance to get to know them better through a fun engagement photo along Dallas Road & the walls behind the studio. These two are so photogenic. We can't wait until the wedding!

Emily & James - Sneak Peek

Eunice & Christina write: Emily and James had a super romantic wedding ceremony at one of our favorite locations in town - the Inn at Laurel Point. With sweeping views of the harbour from every window, you can't ask for a better venue. James' father was the minister, which added a really special and very personal touch... and, as we're sure you can imagine, many tears were shed. We went downtown for their romantic portraits, including their favorite place (Starbucks). We had so much fun doing high-fashion inspired portraits and we couldn't stop shooting. Thank you James and Emily for sharing your day with us!

VIVA LA WEDDING'S INSPIRATION BOARD CONTEST!

Viva la wedding hopes you're full of inspiration because the contest you've been waiting for is here - One lucky couple is going to win free Wedding Day Management from Viva la wedding!

1st prize - Wedding Day Management includes:

Initial consultation:

• Informal discussion (via phone, email or in person) of ceremony location, reception venue, rough timelines, theme/style of wedding, services and expectations, etc

Six to eight weeks prior to wedding day:

• In depth planning meeting to review progress since initial consultation and discuss wedding day in detail *
• Obtain copies of all vendor contracts
• Contact vendors and inform them of wedding day assistance and confirm contract details (deliveries, set up times, etc)
• Create wedding day timelines
• Create checklist of items needed for ceremony and reception
• Ongoing consultation via phone and email throughout the six to eight weeks

Week prior to wedding day:

• Meeting to finalize wedding day details *
• Pick up all personal items (programs, guest book, cake knife, card box, etc)
• Attend and lead rehearsal on absence of on-site church coordinator

*One of these should be an on-site venue meeting

Wedding day:

• Manage wedding day timelines
• Coordinate vendor arrival and set-up at ceremony and reception venue
• Assist with basic décor as agreed upon (seating chart, place cards, guest favours, etc)
• Distribute remaining vendor payments and gratuities
• Crisis management
• Use of wedding day emergency kit
• Assistant included (if required)
• Supervision of vendor tear-down (if requested)

Post wedding:

• Follow up with bride & groom

2nd prize - $400 off Wedding Day Management includes:

Initial consultation:

• Informal discussion (via phone, email or in person) of ceremony location, reception venue, rough timelines, theme/style of wedding, services and expectations, pricing, etc

After the initial consultation, should you wish to hire Viva la wedding to manage your wedding day, you will receive $400 off the total fee.

3rd prize - Colin Cowie Wedding Chic

With limitless options, it can be hard for a bride and groom to know where to begin.

Comprehensive and clearly organized into chapters covering all of the celebration—from bouquets to cakes and food, invitations to dresses and reception décor—Colin Cowie Wedding Chic will quickly become the go-to resource for every wedding.

From the first task of determining the overall mood you want to capture to the final, last-moment preparations, Colin Cowie provides expert advice, unique ideas, and inspiring photographs of more than 1,001 gorgeous details.

Colin Cowie Wedding Chic is the ultimate guide to choosing the elements that will turn a special day into an event to remember forever.

How to enter:

- Create an inspiration board for your upcoming wedding and send it to us via email, subject line 'Wedding Day Management Contest', along with the following information:
- Bride and groom's name, address and all contact information
- Wedding date
- Ceremony and reception location
- Approximate number of guests
- Theme/style of wedding and any other details you'd like to include

Sample inspiration board:

Rules:

- Wedding dates must be in 2009 or 2010 and subject to availability
- Weddings must take place in the Ottawa, ON area. If your wedding is outside of the Ottawa, ON area and you still want to enter you must be able to provide Viva la wedding with transportation and hotel accomodations for at least two nights (night prior and night of wedding) should you win
- Entries must be received by noon on Tuesday June 30/09
- Limit one entry per couple
- Winning couple must sign a contract listing our services and obligations to them as well as their responsibilities to us

Good luck!

POLYVORE.COM

Inspiration boards have been around forever in the world of fashion, interior design and décor but have been popping up over the past few years more frequently on wedding planning websites and blogs alike. Brides to be are flocking to the internet in search of inspiration for their upcoming weddings and while we can get a ton of great ideas from boards others have already created, why not create your own? It's the perfect way to play with the details of your wedding and see how, and if, they all work together.

Check out the wedding inspiration boards others have created on polyvore.com and while you're at it, have some fun and create your own! You never know when it may come in handy.

Meg & Shane - Sneak Peek

Meg and Shane were married at the GORGEOUS Craidelona estate in Sooke - a very private resort set on a stunning beach in Sooke. Meg is also an awesome wedding photographer so we were very flattered when she chose us to photograph her wedding. This wedding was so emotional and moving that both of us choked up a few times. And to make perfection even more perfect, the rain held off until all the guests were inside at the reception - but not before we had a chance to photograph these two against the most incredible sky we've seen in ages. Meg & Shane, you are both a truly amazing couple and we wish you happiness always. Thank you for involving us in your beautiful day.

VIVA'S BOOK CLUB - THE ART OF FLORAL ARRANGING

Learn from the masters how to create breathtaking floral arrangements in this book by Eileen W. Johnson of FlowerSchool New York.

Celebrity designer Michael George, whose high-profile clients include Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Prada, Anna Wintour, and Louis Vuitton, joined forces with entrepreneur Eileen W. Johnson to create this famed floral arranging school located in Midtown Manhattan

Discover how to handle and combine flowers and create hand-tied bouquets, seasonal arrangements, flowers for entertaining, and more.

THIS MONTH'S VIVA LA WEDDING Q&A

Q - Can you offer tips on finding a florist and working with them to choose the right flowers for my wedding?

A - Choosing your flowers is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning but before you make any decisions, there are a few points you'll want to consider.

1. Find the right florist - Check out the listings of great florists in your area. If you find one you haven't heard of, be sure to check them out with the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has had problems with them in the past. Talk to friends and relatives who recently got married, they may have a florist they can recommend. When you finally venture out and start the meet and greets with the florists you've selected, think of the type of person you work well with, the design style you want them to have, and be sure to see a portfolio of their previous work before you commit.

2. Determine your budget - Figure out what you need from the bouquets and boutonnieres to the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception décor and decide on a budget. At the start of your first meeting ask straight out: What great things can you do with $_insert your budget here_?

3. Establish a vision - Are you a true minimalist looking for simplicity or are you dreaming of a romantic wedding with full blooms covering every last square inch? Create a folder of magazine tear-outs to help give your florist a clear idea of your style and the vision you want to capture on your wedding day.

4. Consider your reception site - Are you having an outdoor garden reception and therefore will only need minimal floral accents, or is your reception being held in a large empty space that will need lots of décor? Bring along a photo (a press kit or picture you took at your site visit) in case your florist has never worked a wedding at your venue before.

5. Create a color concept - There's really no point in visiting a florist without knowing the colours you want to incorporate in your décor and if your wedding party will be wearing these colours as well. You can't pick your flowers if you don't know what colours will work.

6. It's all about the dress - Florists base many decisions on the bride's gown. Whether it's white or cream, classic or contemporary, etc. Most florists think of the wedding dress as the centerpiece of the day so make sure you bring a picture of your gown with you.

7. What's your wedding style - Are you looking to carry a very dramatic, long bunch of flowers or a tight, neat bouquet? Style will not only determine which flowers will work best for your wedding but will also affect the price.

8. Size matters - What's your head count? That number will determine how many tables and, consequently, how many centerpieces you'll need. How many attendants will you have to get flowers for - bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearer, your parents? This will also dramatically impact the price.

9. Get it in writing - Make sure your florist drafts a contract, specifically stating the flowers you're going to have, the arrangements you need, the price, and what time you can expect them to arrive on your wedding day. Don't hesitate to include the things you absolutely don't want as well.

10. Ready to get started? We're so fortunate to have some great florists in the Ottawa area! Here are a few you should check out... Flowers Talk, Mood Moss Flowers and Bel Fiore.

INSPIRATION - MORE WEDDING FLOWERS

Dahlias

Hydrangeas

Peonies

Stephanotis

Photo Credits: The Knot

INSPIRATION - WEDDING FLOWERS

The first week in May we dedicated an inspiration post to tulips. Here are four others varieties, in no particular order, to complete the top five list of most popular wedding flowers.

Roses

Orchids

Calla Lillies

Gerbera Daisies

Photo Credits: The Knot