Archive for Design & Decor
Love on the One Love Drive, Negril, Jamaica!
Posted by: | CommentsI had the pleasure of creating yet another spectacular wedding for my clients, Joy & Norman, in Negril, Jamaica in March 2010 and again walked away just awed by the resourcefulness and friendly professionalism of Negril. Dubbed the capital of casual, the friendly and laid back town boasts many talented artist and artisans such as the folks at Kush Art; beautiful properties - too many to name here, and gregarious and warm residents such as, Lembert, driver of the One Love Shuttle and president of the Negril Cluster, an association that is redefining Negril as the heart of Jamaica’s cultural mecca and the place to taste and do everything Jamaican.
As a destination planner who specializes in Jamaica, I am also very aware of the environment and try to incorporate elements of green into my client’s weddings. I do this by locally sourcing as much of their wedding needs as is possible and this gives me the opportunity to meet with an amazing array of Jamaican talent.
In comes Ryan, the artist and owner of Kush Art on Negril’s One Love Drive. This is a must stop on your tour of attractions of the west end of town because here you can find any items handcrafted from bamboo, wood, clay or fabric. All their work is custom made and by hand and is in essence the closest you can get to commissioning your own work of art, whether it be furniture, a painting of jewelry or clothing. Ryan has produced chargers, candle holders and trays for my tabletops and has also produced jewelry for my brides as gifts for her bridesmaids.
Another noteworthy mention is that whether wedding vendor or not, everyone is willing to assist with your vision of your clients wedding and even when an off the cuff and slightly quirky idea blossoms (aka coconut husks as vases!), the local coconut vendor will be happy to help and will even have them delivered via scooter taxi when I am too busy to make the pick up myself!
Though my clients are happily off honeymooning at Breezes Negril, I continue to receive many quick notes of thanks for a day well done and as they remember little parts of their wedding that was meaningful to them.
Congratulations Norman and Joy!
Culture Shock - Hilda & Oliver
Posted by: | CommentsThe minute I met Hilda and Oliver, I knew that their wedding was going to be very special and heaps of fun and they didn’t disappoint! This couple had a fresh and vibrant approach and definitely had their own ideas about the kind of celebration they wanted to have. They wanted to pull different parts of their Ghanaian and Jamaican culture together to include both families and have a big party!
Oliver was the planner of the duo as he is a noted DJ on the Toronto scene and having provided his professional services at many other weddings, knew precisely what he did and did not want. He was very keen on the logistics of the reception as he wanted to incorporate a very fun and funky grand entrance using a drummer and many other special touches including parents of both the bride and groom.
The day started out a bit rainy but the group was undaunted as they had a great time getting ready at the chic waterfront hotel, The Waterside Inn on Lakeshore, where the bride dispatched one of her bridemaids (who incidentally is the sister of the groom) to drop off a pre wedding gift to her fiancé while he was getting ready. What she didn’t realize was that he was also just about sending his best man to do the same and so we intercepted him and brought back her treasure trove. The day was filled with special and thoughtful touches like this and it was so easy to see that this couple was totally in love.
Pictures were done at Mississauga City Hall pre ceremony because of the rainy weather and a beautiful ceremony was held at St. Anne’s RC church in Brampton. Luckily I am a Minister of Communion in good standing 
as I was called upon to assist Father Leo with communion at the wedding Mass! I was absolutely honored to be a part of their beautiful celebration of marriage vows.
The evening progressed to The Venetian in Vaughan for the reception where Ria’s Designs wowed us with their beautiful set up of the room and the banquet hall staff delighted us with the efficient and very attentive service.
The grand entrance had DJ Jonathan Shaw playing specific songs for each couple in the bridal party so they could rock to their own beat and take their seats. The newlyweds however opted for an African drummer and delighted everyone by starting with some Ghanaian beats where Hilda tried to show her new husband a few moves and then Oliver reciprocated with a few reggae moves. They certainly grooved their way to the sweetheart table in the middle of the room to everyone’s delight. We were all certainly set up for a great night and it was delivered.
The videography team made good on the promise of a fantastic same day edit during dinner but not before the Mother/Son dance got everybody grooving to the reggae song of “Thank You Mama”. Oliver’s mom showed us a few cool moves that showcased her prowess on the dance floor and blew away some of the guests who didn’t realize that she was just as young at heart as her son! Hilda’s family also got some of their tunes showcased as DJ Johnathan found a few Ghanaian rhythms in his arsenal as well.
Two very personal and sweet notes in this celebration were the cake that was done by the bride’s aunt who came in from the USA the night before the wedding and the customized wedding favours and guestbook. Joel of Event Imaging was on hand to take pictures of all the guests as a momento but also so that the B&G could have extra shots for their guestbook. All the guests were delighted to jot down their thoughts and well wishes to the couple on coloured paper cut into shapes that were provided for the scrapbook/guestbook.
My fav highlight of the evening came when the couple revealed their “true story”. Throughout the planning of the wedding, there was a website chronicling the events leading up to the nuptials and there was a version of how they met and got together in each of their own words. There was also a note that there were 3 sides to every story…her side, his side and the truth! They told us the truth at the wedding and it was a perfect topper for the day. For those who followed this love story, it was a perfect and happy ending to several years of courtship, separation, finding each other again and happily ever after!
Special thanks to the Matt and his team at Xero Digital for providing some of the shots for the blog…we wait in anticipation for their professional shots in a while and I will happily update you with those (all the shots that scream amateur would be mine!)
Congratulations Hilda and Oliver!
Decor & Design - the polish on your event
Posted by: | CommentsAugust 4, 2009
Décor is big wedding business and the biggest names in décor have something in common, they focus on creating a theme and incorporating elements of it repeatedly throughout the process to create that WOW factor that make us gasp in pleasure.
Whenever I think about décor and design, I reach for my “Inspirations” by Preston Bailey and I start to dream!
Something he said when I had the opportunity to hear him present at the Wedding Expo in Toronto in 2007, stuck in my mind. He told us that no one comes to him for “nice designs”, people come to Preston Bailey for “over the top WOW!” He therefore encouraged us to use his designs as a starting point, to choose colours or elements of design from his creations and personalize it based on our clients’ style. Since I know I won’t be seeing any Preston type budgets coming across my table for design anytime soon, I look through my signed copy of Inspirations 
, dream, lust and then get real and meet with my client to discuss designing their décor using Preston Bailey inspirations but scaled to their style and budget! I have steered a client or two in the direction of the transformation of the Exhibition Hall in United Arab Emirates, a terrarium created for an after party bar for one of his clients and of course being Sandals certified, I have also introduced my clients to his Signature Weddings @ Sandals that used to be featured on their properties. Feast your eyes on incredible transformations at http://www.prestonbailey.com/PORT.htm
Closer to home I find more inspiration from Toronto’s award winning event design and décor company, Designing Trendz. I am a huge fan or Craig Gruzd and his team and having listened to him present earlier this year at the 4th annual Wedding Planners Institute of Canada conference in February, elements of the process stuck in my mind as he explained how he achieves the ultimate wow for his clients. Craig insists that he can create a design from anything that inspires him at the time, whether it is a place or a picture, a mood or an era that comes to mind when he is thinking about his clients’ event. That boggles my mind since my creative side is forced out through midnight research and blood, sweat and tears!
With permission from Designing Trendz, I invite you to view “Candy Land” below. Note how candy colours greet you from the foyer area with candy filling the bottom of the vases, incorporating the theme before you get to the room with the main display. Walking into the room, you see the wow factor of the mural on the wall, bags repeating the candy theme hanging on to the chairs, a fantastic table linen that makes me think of swizzle sticks and arrangements of flowers in a myriad of colours that make you actually feel like you are in candy land. The overall effect from above is that of a fun, happy, absolutely gorgeous design.
So the lesson for today, find a theme and use elements of it repeatedly to capture that big WOW! Décor makes an event and these creative geniuses leave us a lot of food for thought and much eye candy…no pun intended…really!
