VIVA'S BOOK CLUB - GREEN WEDDING

In honour of upcoming Earth Day on April 22nd, check out Green Wedding by New York Times Style correspondent Mireya Navarro.

Green is the new white for today’s brides — metaphorically speaking.

Environmentally conscious couples are often appalled by the cumulative carbon footprint of traditional weddings and are seeking ways of expressing their earth-friendly values as they express their love.

Green Wedding shows there are smart alternatives — products and services as well as planning decisions — that can reduce environmental harm while ensuring a joyous, memorable and stylish celebration.

HAPPY EASTER!

Photo Credits: ha! photography

WEDDING SHOW SURVIVAL GUIDE

Wedding Shows are attended by thousands of brides to be (and future grooms) each year. Not only can they be a fun way to spend the day, they’re also the perfect networking tool when planning a wedding because they allow you to meet with so many vendors in a short period of time all under one roof. But in order to make the most of your day and keep it as fun and stress free as possible, you need to have a game plan.

Click on these images for details on Wedding Shows here in Ottawa and review the tips below before going to ensure your day is an enjoyable and productive one.

1. The early bird gets the worm - Find out when the doors open and be one of the first brides there. If you wait until late afternoon it will be crowded and harder to get around with longer waits to talk to the vendors you’re looking to hire.

2. Slip on your Uggs for this event - Hard concrete floors mixed with hours of walking around from booth to booth can make for very sore feet at the end of the day so your shoes should be comfortable ones.

3. H2O – A simple bottle of water can cost over $3 so throw a couple in your bag before leaving the house in the morning. It can get hot, the air can get very dry and after spending the day sampling cake and chocolate covered strawberries - you’re going to need it!

4. Don’t bring the whole posse - While it may sound like a fun excuse to get all the girls together there are going to be A LOT of people there and it may be difficult at times to navigate through the crowd. Sticking to a group of two or three is best, otherwise your time may be spent trying to find your crew instead of focusing on finding vendors for your big day.

5. Map it out - All Wedding Shows have a website that lists the vendors who are going to be there and usually include a floor map with their booth location as well. Take a look at the list and map if available before hand. Check out the vendors’ websites ahead of time and try to determine which ones you want to talk to. Highlight them on the floor map so they’re easy to find and when you’re at the show, only take the business cards and brochures from the vendors you’re interested in. It will make it less confusing when you’re weeding through your bag at home.

6. Q & A – Prepare questions ahead of time and bring a pen to take notes. You will be talking to many vendors all with different services to sell and information to give. Make quick notes after talking with each of them so you will remember what they said and what you liked/didn’t like about them.

7. Patience is a virtue - If you really want to talk to a vendor don’t get discouraged if their booth is crowded by other brides to be. Walk around and come back later. If the crowd around them doesn’t ever seem to get any smaller, wait for the fashion show to start. The floor usually thins out when the show is on.

8. Don’t give into the pressure - You’re sure to run into vendors who will tell you that they only have one opening left for your wedding date. While the best vendors do book up quickly, there are a lot of vendors at the show to talk to so don’t feel like you need to sign with the first one you come across.

9. Draws, draws and more draws - If you’re hoping to win one of the many draws a Wedding Show has to offer come prepared with pre printed cards that have your name, address, phone number and email address on them. This will save you time at the show and make entering the draws a piece of cake.

10. Have fun! - After all, you’re getting MARRIED!! Whether you’re going with your fiancé, mom or maid of honour make the most of it. Go early, get your stuff done and then head out for a great lunch and a cocktail or two to thank them for sharing in a productive day.

Saskia & Ian - Calgary

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Victoria Butterfly Gardens

We are so excited! We've been busy this winter shooting commercial jobs for the Butterfly Gardens, Truffles Catering, Robinson's Outdoor Store, the Canoe Club and a Yoga Studio. We've been waiting for the images to begin appearing in ads and the first one is on display along the highway from the ferries. It's huge! Christina was driving back from the airport the other day so decided to take a quick pick.

PERFECT PROPOSAL

Wedding Paper Divas recently ran an Engagement Story Contest (unfortunately only open to US residents) and Chris & Courtney of Connecticut were the winners! Here’s their story as told by the bride to be…

My boyfriend Chris and I are avid skiers, so when he told me that the lifts at our favorite resort (Killington, VT) were opening early for season pass holders one Saturday morning, I couldn't resist. We got up early and managed to be the very first to get to the lift. Unbeknownst to me, Chris had been in communication with the mountain staff for months and had convinced them to open the lifts a half hour early just for the two of us. There were a lot of people getting their skis together behind us, so I didn't think anything of it at the time. The lift attendants played along and said it was going to be a beautiful day, but really busy since it was a special weekend for pass holders.

About half way up the lift, Chris brought my attention to the returning chairs on the opposite side. There was a sign on the back of the chair that said, "Hi hunny!" I didn't catch on right away, but there were a total of 16 signs on the chairs that passed, each with a special memory or inside joke from our time together. When we got off the lift, the last sign at the top of the mountain said, "Will You Marry Me?". We clicked our skis off, Chris got down on one knee, said some of the nicest words anyone has ever said to me and asked me to marry him. I said yes, and then two of our best friends came out of the background holding cameras and champagne glasses with our names engraved on them. We toasted on the top of Bear Mountain!

Photo Credits: CRL Media Group

THERE'S ONLY ONE REAL 'TO DO' LIST

For all you brides (and grooms) feeling a little overwhelmed with the planning process and what seems like a never ending 'to do' list...


Photo Credits: Everyday People