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Finding everything for your big day in one place
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t may be a little chilly outside, but what better way to get out of the cold than by getting a head start on planning your upcoming nuptials? It’s that time of year again, and the 2020 Weddings on the Border Bridal Show, presented by The Tent Guys, is sure to fill all of your wedding day needs. With 30 confirmed vendors and more to come, attendees will have the opportunity to browse for anything and everything from a hall to host your big day, where to have your food catered from, potential hair stylists, dress and suit rentals, and a wide variety of photographers and videographers. Mark your calendars for Feb. 8 and make your way out to the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds’ Alberta Building. The show will be open from
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tickets are $15 each, kids under 10 get in for free. If you’re already planning on attending the show and want to save some time at the door, you can pre-register at weddingsontheborder.com. This is The Te nt G u y s ’ s e c ond year organizing and hosting the event, and organizer Pam Becotte is looking forward to another great year. “This is our second year producing the bridal show, and despite the weather being about -40C last year, the whole event went really well,” she said. “We had really strong attendance and it was really exciting to see the networking happening between vendors. “The event ‘family’ we are starting to create in our area is great. We have a lot of repeat
vendors that are coming back, and we have lots of new ones bringing in new ideas.” When it comes to new vendors, Becotte mentioned there will be a couple of new videography companies who specialize in weddings in attendance. “If you haven’t worked with them in the past you may not
have heard of them because they’re relatively new companies in the area, and it’s exciting to be able to showcase these companies that operate out of Lloydminster,” she said. “It’s also nice to be aware of these companies and knowing they’re reputable.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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Looking your best, feeling your best FROM PAGE 3
Becotte is also excited to announce this year’s show will feature an on-site gown sale to accompany the fashion show. “We love to show Lloyd that they don’t need to go out of town when planning their wedding, and it’s exciting because we did get a ton of networking out of last year, and it was great to see people build and support each other,” she said. “The community that’s being built around this show is great. Vendors are excited to come back, and they brought in some new great ideas for this year.
“We’ll have the inspirational decor tents again this year, and those are great because it drops the ceiling, and vendors can do some intimate stuff with lighting they wouldn’t be able to display without the drop ceiling, and there’s also going to be a complimentary photo at our Photo Booth.” The paparazzi wall is also b a c k, s o w h o e ve r c o m e s w i t h the largest entourage will win $1,000 in vendor bucks for vendors and sponsors of the show. Vendor bucks do not have to be spent on the day of the show.
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You just never know what you’ll find! FROM PAGE 4
“The show used to give $1,000 in cash, but that cash wouldn’t necessarily go back to the vendors who support the show, so we changed it to two $500 gift certificates.” This year’s fashion show will once again feature the latest and greatest in bride and groom fashion and kicks off at 3 p.m. The bar will be open the entire length of the show, offering attendees the chance to relax a bit while taking in all of the sights of the day. “The idea is, if you want to have a cocktail while you’re enjoying the fashion show, or if your legs are tired from walking around, you can hang out, have a nice drink, and still soak in the
entire show,” said Becotte. This year’s grand prizes are plentiful with support from many local vendors, including a $500 gift certificate from Art of Flowers, which can be applied to any fresh or artificial flower order, Black Magic Limo Service is offering up a $500 gift certificate to their shop which can be applied to any of their services. There is a wedding photography package from Max Photography Studio, a $500 gift certificate from Rolling Green Fairways, which can be applied to any goods or services offered by Rolling Greens, and a $700 gift certificate to Wainwright Jewelers to be used in-store by May 9. Becotte also noted that even if you’re in the market for Grad supplies such as a gown, makeup
etc., this year’s Weddings on the Border will not disappoint. The most important thing to
remember is to enjoy yourself, because your special day will be over before you know it!
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Start your big day on the right note
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ot to say the days of the classic wedding singer are a thing of the past, but many couples nowadays seek a talented and confident DJ to help them have a fun and worryfree day. It all st art s long bef ore th e ceremony, the best man hoping to deliver a funny but heartfelt speech, classic “Uncle Mike” trying to embarrass his nephew on his wedding day, and of course, that first dance as husband and wife. Now, finding someone up to the task is never easy, but building a good relationship and maintaining open lines of communication with your desired DJ
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for the day is very important. “It’s all about the prep work, and we send out an information sheet that lays everything out and takes a step by step approach to the whole event,” said Cody Maz of Maz Entertainment. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Pick your perfect song and let the DJ do the rest FROM PAGE 6
“We’ll know what time we have to be there, which song you would like for each individual dance, and what colours you want for the lighting setup.” Along with being an active member of the community, Maz Entertainment offers clients services including high-quality audio and lighting, live sound applications, wired and wireless microphones, projector and screen, intelligent lighting to match wedding colours, animation laser capabilities, unlimited music library with onsite downloading, lighting and audio rentals and more. “Having great communication is also key prior to and on the day of, and having something like a secondary call-back number is great because the bride and groom are
usually busy, so the maid of honour or a parent of the bride or groom is great to keep in contact with,” said Maz. Having a backup plan can make or break a wedding, and Maz explained he and his team always have steps in place to handle any kind of hiccup. “The security of knowing if I were to get sick, or one of my speakers blows up, or a laptop blows up, or something happens at the event, we are equipped with six or seven sets of this type of gear so that we’ll be able to go out and still be able to work the event,” he said. “We also try and encourage people to leave us reviews on our services when they had a good experience, but we also enjoy hearing critiques, and I want to hear about it. I want to know if something went wrong and a song wasn’t
played when it was supposed to, I need to know that. “A lot of times people don’t like bringing it up, but those are the details we’re more worried about
so we can improve on it.” Getting married and in the market for a DJ? Check out www. mazentertainment.ca to see if they’re a good fit for you.
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Brightening up your big day E
ver think about how much work goes into that centerpiece? When attending a wedding, the average guest doesn’t question their surroundings too heavily. Everything has been put together as perfectly as possible. The food, the table arrange-
ments, the transportation, and the flowers are all part of a series of factors coming together to make the perfect day for a lucky couple. However, the work behind the scenes to put all those flowers together can be quite hard.
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The detail is all in the decoration FROM PAGE 8
“A lot of times Pinterest comes into the conversation because people are super excited for their big day and have everything all picked out as far as colours and style, which is great for us because it helps us get an idea as to what they’re looking for,” said Art of Flowers owner Kelly-Lynn Joy. “And of course we go into budget and cost, stuff like that. That all gives us an idea of what we’re looking at and we go from there.” It’s tough to beat the smell of freshly picked and arranged flowers, especially when the bouquet is handmade with care and attention to detail for each individual couple. “With the bouquet, we’re trying to match the vision the bride has
as best as possible,” she said. “The same thing goes for the centrepiece. We simply want to find the best fit for each couple.” The process of figuring out the look of each wedding varies but usually begins with a quick consultation and a back and forth between the planners of the wedding and the shop. “One thing we tell clients is that we want to make their day as special and fun as possible and create that dream wedding,” she said. “The day goes by so quickly and we want to make it fun, but also hassle-free for the couple.” Once a look has been decided on, the real work can begin, and it can take time for the designers to get their hands on the goods.
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A how-to on selecting your groomsmen G
rooms-to-be face many decisions regarding their pending nuptials, but few may prove as delicate as choosing the groomsmen for the big day. Friends who expect to be groomsmen may be disappointed if they are not ultimately chosen, while brothers may feel left out if they are not asked to walk a bridesmaid up the aisle. Choosing grooms-men should not be taken lightly. Grooms-to-be who are facing some difficult choices with regard to that decision can follow a few pointers to ensure they make the right call. Pick a number: Before you even consider who you want your grooms-men to be, speak to your fiancée about how many bridesmaids she hopes to have. The number of groomsmen and brides-maids typically matches, so your fiancée’s intentions may make your decision a lot easier. For example, if you have two brothers and several friends you’re considering, but your fiancée only intends to have a maid of honour and one bridesmaid, then you can just ask both of your brothers to serve as groomsmen. Friends are unlikely be offended if family members get the nod ahead of them, so discuss numbers with your fiancée
before you begin trimming your list of candidates. If yo u al r e ad y have an id e a of who you want to be your groomsmen but your choices outnumber your fiancée’s, see if she has any-one else she can add to her party so no one is left out. Choose the best man for the job: Many grooms pick a brother to serve as their best man, and while that’s a nice sentiment, it’s important that grooms recognize that being a best man carries with it some responsibility. A best man will organize the bachelor party, give a toast at the wedding and handle any post-wedding duties, such as returning the tuxes or arranging for the newly-weds’ transportation to the airport. If your brother is already incredibly busy or if you doubt he is up to the task of being a best man, then you might be better off asking him to be a groomsman and finding another best man who’s more capable of juggling the numerous responsibilities that come with being best man. Don’t forget your fian-cée’s family: While you should not feel pressured to pick anyone in particular as your best man, if your fiancée has any brothers, ask her if she had her heart set on including any of them in the bridal party. Some brides want their broth-
ers to be groomsmen, so discuss this with your fiancée before asking anyone to line up beside you. This discussion can go both ways as well, as you can ask your bride-to-be to include a favourite sister in her bridal party if you so desire. Confirm their availability: When asking friends or family members to be grooms-men, it’s best to ensure they can actually make it to the ceremony. This is a concern for grooms who are planning a destination wedding or those getting married in their fiancée’s hometown and not their own, as some guests, including potential groomsmen, may not be able to afford to attend an over-seas or
faraway ceremony. When asking, explain the situation to them, and let them know you fully understand if they cannot commit to being a groomsmen due to travel or financial concerns. Confirm their availability as soon as possible, as you don’t want to be down one groomsman come your big day. For those who you want to be a groomsman but are unable to make it, it can be a nice gesture to buy them a groomsmen gift as a token of your appreciation for their friendship. Many grooms face difficult decisions when choosing their grooms-men. But there are ways to make such decisions a lot easier than they may seem.
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Make it a cake to remember on your day T
he presentation of the wedding cake marks the culmination of the day’s festivities and a final symbol of a happy couple’s new partnership. Many people eagerly await the cake as much as they may anticipate catching a glimpse of the bride in her beautiful gown. While the cake in all its finery can be a beautiful sight to behold, a cake can only last so long before its fate as a delicious dessert is sealed. As is the case with many wedding traditions, there is some established etiquette with regard to cutting and serving wedding cake. If you plan on putting your cake on display, be sure it is made with a frosting and filling that can with room-temperature conditions. Certain creams may sour if not
refrigerated, and you do not want anyone becoming ill. If you have your heart set on perishable fillings, keep the cake refrigerated and then have the big reveal right before it is cut. The cake cutting usually comes near the end of the wedding reception. Schedule the cutting so older guests or young children can leave without feeling as if they would be offending anyone. The emcee of the evening typically announces the cake cutting, and the band may play a quirky tune or revisit the wedding song while the first slice is being cut. A bride should hold the cake knife with her right hand, while the groom places his right hand over hers before they proceed to slice down together. If the cake has a foam or card-
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board support, be careful not to cut through it. Use a cake server to grab the first piece. Traditionally the newly
betrothed will feed each other a bite of the cake to symbolize their first meal as a couple. CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
Traditional or not, it’s all going to be enjoyed!
FROM PAGE 12
Couples can feed each other a
small amount, taking care not to spill any. Many couples no longer embrace the once-popular tradition of smashing cake in each other’s faces, but whether or not cou-ples follow this tradition is up to them. Some couples like to serve their parents a piece of cake. Traditionally the bride should serve the groom’s parents and the groom the bride’s parents. If there is a groom’s cake, guests may prefer a slice of both cakes. Guests may also want to take home a slice of the groom’s cake. Tradition states a piece of the groom’s cake should be presented to an unmarried woman attending the wedding. The woman is not expected to eat the cake, but rather to put it under her pillow. Superstition held that this tra-
dition would help an unmarried woman find a husband. Make arrangements for proper packaging of the groom’s cake so guests can take home a slice if they’d like. The waitstaff typically handles the slicing of the cake. The uppermost tier is reserved for the couple to save; the remainder of the cake will be served. Recognize that not all guests like cake, but it’s better to err on the side of caution and have a cake that will feed all of the guests. You also may want to offer a dessert bar for guests who prefer another type of sweet treat. Desert bars serving up cupcakes, cookies and various types of candy are becoming very popular. Some couples have even been so creative they pre-packaged
cookie-making kits for their guests to take home and bake with their family. However, this is a luxury, not a necessity. The cake-cutting ritual at weddings has withstood the test of time, and many couples still prefer to present the cake with fanfare and excitement.
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Making the most of your entire night N
owadays, many wedding guests are not ready to call it a night after the deejay plays the last dance at the reception. After parties have grown increasingly popular, but planning an after party is not necessarily as simple as pointing guests to a nearby watering hole. After parties can be anything a couple wants them to be. They can be a bunch of friends toasting marshmallows over a fire pit or a night of dancing at a club. But it pays for couples to heed a few after party pointers. Choose a place within walking distance or close by to the reception hall or hotel Guests have likely been indulging in alcohol during the wedding, and safety should always be
a priority. If only a few people are going out, you may be able to pile into a cab; but if your affair will be attended by more than a handful of guests, choose a venue close by so it’s easy for guests to get there and get home. Limit the food and drink choices Ask servers to bring a few pitchers of beer or sangria and finger foods. This will help avoid disagreements over trying to tally up and split the bill afterwards. Go comfortably If you’re ready to get out of wedding finery, by all means change into something more comfortable.
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more comfortable attire. Take advantage of hotel services Many hotels have conference rooms or attached bars and restaurants that make perfect
gathering places for an after party. Make arrangements with the hotel concierge or the front desk in advance. Delegate responsibilities A busy bride and groom may not have the time or the inclination to plan another party. If guests want to continue celebrating, put the task in the hands of a third party or volunteer. Leave whenever you want
Party-goers will eventually need some sleep. Feel free to leave the after party whenever you want. Usually once a few people begin to disperse, the rest of the group will call it a night. After parties are growing in popularity. Those planning on celebrating into the early hours of the morning can start thinking creatively.
FROM PAGE 14
You probably will enjoy yourself more at the after party if you can mingle in
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A red, a white, or a rosé? How about a bit of each?
W
hat’s a wedding without the clinking of wine glasses? On your special day, choosing the right wine to serve can
be an overwhelming decision, but luckily the experts at Lloyd Wine Outfitters are here to help. “Every couple has their own personal preference, so when
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they come in, we go over what they would normally prefer. For example, Moscatos are always popular, so we have a Barefoot Moscato, and we have the Island Mist which is light and fruity,” said Nicole Dudding, owner or Lloyd Wine Outfitters. “We have full-bodied reds right down to sweet red, so we just like to talk it through with t he m t o f ig u r e ou t w hat t h e y like and go from there.” Lloyd Wine Outfitters has been ser ving t he Bor d er Ci ty and area for the past 10 years, and Dudding noted how couples have really taken a liking to customizing their wedding wine order. “I think that personalizing your wine is becoming a lot more popular than just serving commercial-grade wine at your
wedding,” she said, “and most of the time, couples choose more than one type of wine to serve.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
Arrive in style! D
on’t want to have to worry about transportation for you and your wedding party on your big day? If that’s the case you might as well arrive in style with a party bus or a limo. The Border City has a number of different vendors to choose from, including Black Magic Limo, offering a variety of different options for transportation. Black Magic Limo offers services for weddings, anniversaries, stag/stagettes, graduations, sporting events, concerts, dinner theatre, birthdays, Christmas parties, even airport shuttle service. Their limo comfortably seats 16 people and has a truck box on the back, so there’s plenty of room for storage that doesn’t
intrude on the comfort inside. Accessories include a television, fridge, iPod jack, satellite radio, DVD player, intercom system and more. One feature of a limo service that might not be top of mind in the planning stages of your wedding is having the option to take a five-minute breather throughout the day to simply relax. Your wedding day goes by in a flash, so being able to take a break in between the ceremony and photo sessions before the reception starts could be just what the doctor ordered. With over 30 years of combined experience between drivers Rick and Kendra, the father/ daughter duo strives to deliver the best service every time they turn the keys.
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Have a rockin’ good time with your custom wine FROM PAGE 16
“Couples get to personalize their wine, but they can also customize the label as well,” she said. “It’s a fraction of the cost of commercial grade, and you can personalize it by putting your own wedding date and a ‘thank you’ message on the label. “A lot of people also choose to
bottle in the smaller 375 ml bottles instead of the larger 750 ml bottles and use them as giveaways to thank people for coming to their wedding.” Lloyd Wine Outfitters will also be offering a 15 per cent discount for couples who order a minimum of three different types of wine at the Weddings on the Bor-
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der show, as often times it’s more practical to pick a red, a white, and a rosé to offer guests a choice. Traditionally, the assumption is that a fall or winter wedding automatically means red wine, just like a spring or summer celebration is synonymous with white wine. But actually, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is, just so long as it fits in with your menu. “A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead” aren’t just lyrics from a Billy Joel song, they’re also words to live by as you select the wines you’ll serve at the reception. A good rule of thumb is also to use the “one bottle per guest” rule. Expecting 150 guests? Order 180 bottles to give yourself a bit of a cushion. Keep in mind that as long as bottles aren’t being pre-opened,
the leftover wine can either be sold back into the venue’s inventory or taken home to be enjoyed during the honeymoon and beyond. If you have any questions for Lloyd Wine Outfitters about your big day, visit their booth at the Weddings on the Border Bridal show, or call 306-825-5553.
Costs to keep in mind as a wedding guest
M
illions of people will attend one or more weddings this year. For every couple ready to say, ‘I do;’ there is a sea of people excited about celebrating the event. Getting invited to a wedding is an honour many people are happy to accept. Some do so before they give ample thought to the cost involved in participating in a wedding. Wedding guests can be informed of the costs they should expect upon mailing back their RSVP. A lot of attention is often placed on just how much couples spend to have the wedding of their dreams. Little focus is put on the expenses wedding guests will accrue to attend such an affair. According to a recent American Express Spending and Saving Tracker, guests can anticipate a
cost of nearly $540 per wedding. If a person will be in the wedding party, he or she can expect to pay another $30 to $40 more. The majority of the money spent when attending a wedding goes toward the gift for the couple. While many people will select an item from the bride and groom’s registry, many opt to give cash. American Express says wedding guests will spend an average of $108 on gifts. Factors such as whether the couple is a relative or a close friend will affect how much of a gift is given. If the wedding reception will be held in an opulent location, where it is anticipated the per-head cost for attendees is lofty, guests may opt to gift a little more. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
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Planning ahead for a great night FROM PAGE 19
After gifts, wardrobe and travel are other major expenses that wedding guests will need to consider. If the wedding is close by, transportation costs may be minimal. However, if the wedding requires guests to travel, their expenses will include accommodations, dining out and maybe airline tickets. Wardrobe will be based on the type of wedding, whether it is a formal occasion or a casual affair. Women can expect to pay $50 and up for a cocktail dress. Jewelry, accessories and shoes may run another $100. Men who already own a suit may just need to have it dry cleaned and purchase a new tie. A new suit can cost a few hun-
dred dollars, depending on the designer. Individuals who are in the wedding can expect to pay around $100 for their gown or tuxedo rental. Women may be responsible for their own hair styling and makeup. Participation in a bachelor or bachelorette party can cost bridal party members $60 and up, depending on the venue. Elaborate parties may include travel and cost even more. Parents of children who are not invited to the wedding will have to pay for childcare. Some babysitters charge anywhere from $10 to $15 per hour, and with the average wedding reception close to five hours, it means parents should budget up
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to $75 in babysitting fees. While the couple exchanging vows pays the heftiest price for a wedding, that doesn’t mean wed-
ding guests are without expenses. There are a number of costs wedding guests must consider before deciding to attend.
Make it a night to remember with friends and family
W
hen it comes to your wedding reception, the sky is the limit when it comes to fun! Getting guests involved in the evening is a great way to make sure everyone is having fun, but also a great way to keep unwanted stress off of the happy couple as they enjoy their day. Wedding reception games are a very popular way to get everyone involved in the fun, and with outdoor weddings being everso popular, let’s start with some lawn games! Corn hole is the perfect lawn game for couples that want to make extra activities feel like a cohesive part of the overall wedding décor. Couples also tend to paint and personalize their boards and the beanbags, too!
This is also a great opportunity for your wedding photographer and videographer to get some candid and fun moments. Are you a fan of Jenga? The
traditional tabletop version adds a dose of fun and whimsy to any tented or outdoor reception area, and if you’re up for a DIY wedding project, head to the hard-
ware store for some lumber and request that it is cut into 54 block-size pieces, which you can then stain or paint or otherwise customize however you’d like. Not having an outdoor wedding or looking for some fun games to play inside? Well, don’t forget the Shoe Game! Though your guests won’t be playing, they’ll be laughing it up as your answers reveal the truth about how you view yourselves and each other in this silly game. Want to see the couple share a kiss as newlyweds? Might as well get your guests in on the fun! Have a couple share a kiss and the newlyweds have to re-create that kiss, extra style points go out if you get the happy couple to really ham it up! CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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Celebrate the way you’d like at your reception FROM PAGE 21
Photo booths are very popular and guests of all ages love a themed photo booth! There are so many ways to get creative with how your guests take selfies and group shots together. And when it comes to props, the more, the merrier, of course! Your photo booth can have
whatever sort of theme or vibe that you want. Skew towards silly fun with boas, over-sized glasses and mustache sticks—or, class things up with pretty flowers, ornate frames and signs that commemorate the wedding date. Another great way to get your guests involved is with reception table games such as bride and
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groom trivia! At each guest’s seat, leave a cute sheet with some trivia questions about the two of you—they could be multiple-choice, true/false questions or fill-in-the-blank. Guests can fill out the questions whenever they like, and later, the emcee can read off the answers. Whichever guest gets the most answers correct at their table can take home the centrepiece. What kid, or in this case, adult, doesn’t love a piñata? Keep it on-theme by getting a piñata shaped like a giant wedding cake, heart or another symbol of love and let them have at it after or around the time when the wedding cake (or other dessert) is being served. Of course, the newlyweds will have to come and take a swing with them, too! What about a game of “He Said
She Said?” Hand out “He Said She Said” cards and guests can guess fun facts about the couple, like who said “I love you” first, who is more forgetful and who is the better dancer. You can make your own cards, or you can find a variety of options online. This is very similar to the shoe game but gets everyone in on the fun!
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