Hitched Spring 2015 by North Shore News

SPRING 2015

DESTINATION WEDDINGS

Fred Lee shares his three words of wedding wisdom

A REAL WIFE’S (FAIRY) TALE

Megan and Mike share the best of their big day

BEST SHAPE FOR YOUR SHAPE

Apple, pear, pencil or hourglass – we’ve got the style for you

Colour Trends

We explore your wedding palette for 2015

Make your me

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Contents 6 8 10 12 14 18 20

26 28 30 32 34 36 38

Have your cake and eat it too

The professional selﬁe

A real wife’s (fairy) tale

Best shape for your shape

Go green

2015 Colour Trends

It’s the little things

It’s a white out!

Love shines at the diamond

Icing on the cake

Hot wedding destinations

Take a Vow

Leave it to the professionals

4 SPRING 2015 | HITCHED

WRITERS: SANDRA THOMAS, PHILIP RAPHAEL, ROSLYN DUANE, NIKI HOPE, JANINE JURJI, TORI CLARK, MODERN MINT EVENTS, KUNIOO PHOTO + CINEMA PHOTOGRAPHY: KUNIOO PHOTO + CINEMA, KIMBERLEE REIMER, SIMPLY SWEET PHOTOGRAPHY, JULIE NGUYEN, LINDSAYSDIET, SANDALS RESORTS, CASTAWAY ISLAND RESORT, OUTRIGGER RESORTS, DISNEY’S AULANI RESORT ! DESIGN: MARINA ROCKEY ! TO ADVERTISE IN FUTURE EDITIONS OF THIS MAGAZINE OR TO ENQUIRE ABOUT OTHER GLACIER MEDIA PROJECTS, CONTACT NEWS MEDIA FEATURES MANAGER ELLYN SCHRIBER AT ESCHRIBER@GLACIERMEDIA.CA.

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HITCHED | SPRING 2015 5

Have your cake

Finding the perfect cake may not be at the top of a couple’s to-do list, but it can be the sweetest part of planning for a wedding. While traditional multi-tiered designs are still popular, there is a contingent of brides and grooms moving toward smaller creations. Jill Shumka, owner and baker at the Uncommon Cake in Vancouver, says many of her clients are choosing cakes that look homemade and rustic.

“To make it look homemade is an art in itself,” she says with a laugh, and explains that to go along with a more rustic look, ingredients are more organic and incorporate wild or fresh ﬂowers. In keeping with that trend, “naked” cakes are also popular

right now, she notes. A naked cake is an un-iced cake with visible layers of cake and ﬁlling. “It just looks much more kind of homemade,” says Shumka. There are also more requests for vegan and gluten-free cakes theses days, Shumka says.

Not many couples are including traditional ﬁgurines on top of the cake, she notes. Kathrin Best, marketing manager at Thomas Haas in North Vancouver, agrees. She says couples tend to add

fresh ﬂowers, ribbon decorations or monograms instead.

One of the popular trends of late has been a fake cake, which features a real layer on the bottom for the couple to cut. The rest of the cake is not edible. This type of cake is meant as a showpiece so the couple can get the traditional photo of themselves cutting it, but pieces of the same ﬂavour are already prepared in the back for all the guests and can be quickly and easily served. This approach also makes it easier to provide gluten-free options to some guests rather than a whole gluten-free cake. Edible wedding favours and other desserts are also still popular, with macaron, trufﬂes, chocolates and cupcakes still at the top of the list. Over at Sweet Thea in Langley, co-owner Laurie Mercer

6 SPRING 2015 | HITCHED

& eat it, too notes that macaron towers are a very popular item for weddings this year.

Flavour is also an important factor with the days of stale fruit cakes long gone. Traditional ﬂavours, such as vanilla with raspberry butter cream, chocolate, and chocolate caramel are popular, along with passion fruit, variations of chocolate and pumpkin spice cake.

In New West, Sheila Comer of Pink Ribbon Bakery says red velvet is still the most popular ﬂavour. Heading into spring and summer, fresh berries, lemon and more fruit-focused cakes are popular along with ﬂorals such as lavendar and Earl Grey tea.

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Best shape for your Part of the fun of shopping for a dress is trying on each and every style to the amusement of all your friends. However, if you want to nail it the ﬁrst time use this trusty guide and try on the shapes that work best for your body type. Apple

Pear

Hourglass

Create a curved silhouette with A-line, ball gown and empire dresses

Emphasize your slim waist, and choose a shape that drapes over your hips, with A-line, ball gown and empire silhouettes

Accentuate your ﬁgure with curve hugging styles such as mermaid, A-line or sheath

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SHAPE

Pencil

Cone

Opt for a sheath to show off your slender frame or alternatively give the illusion of curves with mermaid or ball gown shapes

Balance out a larger bust with a fuller skirt. Find a sweetheart neckline with straps for added support

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OUR OUTLOOK ON

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Colour trends 2014 brought in the rein of the pastels, wood grains and rustic tones with dustings of lavender hues. The ethereal trend deﬁnitely

won’t disappear this year. Instead, we will see it complimented with accents of bolder shades for a pop of fun. Pantone has released its spring 2015 colour report with the theme ‘En Plein Air,’ meaning ‘in the open air,’ shades that take their cue from nature.

DENNIS BRASSO

Swatches & illustration CREDIT © PANTONE LLC

PANTONE® 14-4313 Aquamarine

PANTONE® 16-4725 Scuba Blue

PANTONE® 14-5714 Lucite® Green

PANTONE® 19-4052 Classic Blue

PANTONE® 14-1213 Toasted Almond

PANTONE® 16-1720 Strawberry Ice

PANTONE® 15-1247 Tangerine

PANTONE® 13-0720 Custard

PANTONE® 18-1438 Marsala

PANTONE® 14-4102 Glacier Gray

IMAGE KIMBERLEE REIMER

10 SPRING 2015 | HITCHED

2015

This colour palette can be incorporated into every aspect of your special day.

Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece速 Four-Petal Flower Tie

SHOES & EARRINGS COURTESY OF ASOS

M.A.C Lipstick in So Chaud

HITCHED | SPRING 2015 11

IT’S A

WHITE

Even if you’re hoping for a magical, winter, wonderland wedding, it’s fair to say that few couples wish for a white out on their big day.

The blushing bride Romantic, feminine and a few shades away from tradition. Beautiful.

That said, many brides are saying “I do” to non-traditional wedding dresses for their nuptials and even opting for colour. Here, we pick out some of our favourite alternatives.

Relaxed elegance We love the idea of a more relaxed take on the wedding ensemble by combining an elegant skirt with a sweater à la Olivia Palermo.

Shortie A great way to show off those pins your husband-to-be loves so much! Don’t be afraid to choose a short dress for your walk down the aisle. We love the laser cut detailing on this one from ASOS.

MODEL IMAGES COURTESY OF ASOS

12 SPRING 2015 | HITCHED

OUT!

Siren! Why not ramp up the wow factor (and heat!) with a show stopping red number?

A jump from the expected

Maybe skirts just aren’t your thing. Take a leaf from Solange Knowles’ book and opt for a white jumpsuit. Chic, elegant and stylish.

Demure is more Demure can be sexy too! This dress proves that a high neck and long sleeve doesn’t mean you’ll look like a nun!

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Icing on the cake

The ﬁnal touches on any outﬁt can often be the hardest to perfect.

Delicate, ﬁne chains or chunky statement pieces can change up a look dramatically. There are many options for elevating the wedding dress ensemble, from traditional veils, to Gatsby fascinators and garden party ﬂoral crowns. Here are our picks for both traditional and daring brides to be.

Johnny Loves Rosie Amrita Bow Turband

IMAGE COURTESY OF ASOS

Tasha Crystal Sand Bow Clip IMAGE

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Fur Shawl

Pearl Tiara

Regal Rose Grace Leaf Hairband

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Hair Clips

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF ASOS

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There’s no need to head to Vegas for a bachelorette party when the action in Vancouver can be just as wild, or not, depending on the bride’s wishes, of course. And, depending on the bridal party, what happens in Vancouver can also stay in Vancouver — so long as partiers restrict their social media postings to selﬁes. So while a party buses, male strippers and Jell-O shots might be a popular choice, the follow are ﬁve (mostly) photofriendly alternatives.

Drawn to Men Art Party As the Real Housewives of Vancouver discovered, there can be something quite liberating in sipping Champagne, eating strawberries and drawing an incredibly handsome man wearing nothing but a tube sock — even if no one in the bridal party has ever previously picked up a charcoal pencil. (Drawntomen.com)

High Tea There’s nothing quite like unfolding a pristine white linen napkin before sipping piping hot tea from a delicately painted, ﬁne china cup to elevate an afternoon. And while those tiny cucumber sandwiches are still a staple on most high tea menus, today’s version is just as likely to also offer everything from Champagne and caviar to lobster.

Spa Day Irene Lee, founder of Pure Nail Bar, says during wedding season each of her numerous locations across the city typically sees two to three bridal parties a day, a time when brides, bridesmaids and the people who love them ﬂock to the salon for a little pampering before the big day. Lee allows groups of between six and 20 take over the salon for manicures, pedicures, gel nails and foot massages. (purenailbar.com) There are many spas across the city that can accommodate bridal parties: check out Juillet Spa and Wedding (juilletsparesort.ca), Spa at the Wedgewood Hotel (wedgewoodhotel.com), Absolute Spa at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and Red Cedar at Four Seasons Vancouver (fourseasons.com/Vancouver).

Pole Dance Stagettes Tantra Fitness founder Tammy Morris, an exotic dancer for more than 10 years, has choreographed pole and lap dance routines ideal for the blushing bride and her BFFs. For the more modest, Tantra can customize the party to suit bridal parties more into ﬁtness than sexy fun (tantraﬁtness.com). 16 SPRING 2015 | HITCHED

An added bonus is the mother-of-the-bride and mother-in-law to be will likely feel more comfortable holding a cup of Earl Grey than a stainless-steel pole. In Vancouver, high tea is served at several locations including the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (fairmont.com/hotel-vancouver), Wedgewood Hotel (wedgewoodhotel.com) and for a more casual experience, Truffles Café at VanDusen Botanical Garden vandusen@ trufflesfinefoods.com.

Butlers in the Buff Handsome, and cheeky, party butlers will mix cocktails, wearing nothing but an apron and a smile, and ensure no one in the bridal party lifts a ﬁnger during these bare buns-themed bachelorette bashes. Butlers in the Buff takes care of the bride’s every need in private homes, hotel suites, pool side or even on the beach (butlersinthebuff.ca).

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Hot wedding The Courier’s Fred UnLeeshed columnist Fred Lee has three words of advice for anyone planning a destination wedding: “Keep it small.” Lee told Hitched it also helped that he and then-fiancé Josh McVeity used a wedding planner based out of the Four Seasons Hotel Maui at Wailea, Hawaii. Lee says planner Denise Black took care of almost every detail for the couple. “We literally arrived with our J. Crew summer suits, with everything in place,” says Lee. “We looked after the wedding licence, which essentially meant filling out an application in advance and making an appointment with the licence office days before the ceremony.”

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Black also helped the couple’s guests with their travel arrangements and in planning a dinner for 12 following the beachfront ceremony. “Denise looked after our reception and dinner. She was helpful and came up with many

suggestions,” says Lee. “We agreed to a traditional island dinner with locally sourced ﬂowers and ingredients.” Whether a bride and groom want to pay for the services of a destination wedding planner or take advantage of a pre-arranged, sometimes free ceremony at an all-inclusive resort, the allure of a beachfront ceremony is intoxicating.

Oahu Imagine waves crashing onto the sand below while your intimate ceremony and reception unfolds on an open-air deck at Outrigger Reef on the Beach. Or enjoy breathtaking views of Diamond Head and the ocean while pledging your vows at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach in the heart of Waikiki. The hotels offer wedding and vowrenewal packages that include everything from photography to leis, ofﬁciants to ceremony guitarists. Visit outriggerwaikikihotel. com and outriggerreefonthebeach.com. Other Oahu hotels offering beachfront weddings include Hilton Hawaiian Village

destinations (hiltonhawaiianvillage.com), Moana Surfrider (moana-surfrider. com), Royal Hawaiian (royalhawaiian.com) and Turtle Bay Resort (turtlebayresort.com). Meanwhile, Disney’s Aulani Resort in Ko Olina can make all your dreams come true with a fairy tale wedding on the beach complete with Mickey and Minnie (disneyweddings.com/Hawaii).

Maui If Maui is your dream destination, the Fairmont Kea Lani (fairmont. com/kea-lani-maui) and the Four Seasons Hotel Maui at Wailea (fourseasons.com/maui) can help create a tropical wedding pulled from the pages of a magazine.

Antigua Because in the Caribbean the honeymoon begins just as soon as the ceremony is over, Sandals Resorts coined the phrase “WeddingMoon” to describe its destination packages. And what better place to be married than Sandals Grande Antigua

Resort and Spa, voted “World’s Most Romantic Resort” at the 2014 World Travel Awards, an honour the property has garnered 15 times. Located on Dickenson Bay, the resort is a true romantic oasis offering the charm of the Caribbean with the sophistication of the Mediterranean. Couples can discover two unique experiences – the Caribbean Grove, a lush seaside oasis with ﬂower-lined pathways and majestic palms and the all-suite, all-out-glamour of the Mediterranean Village (sandals.com).

Cancun & Riviera Nayarit While still offering swaying coconut trees and stunning blue ocean vistas, Transat Holidays offers numerous wedding packages to accommodate varying budgets for couples, families and large groups. Many of the all-inclusive resorts partnered with Transat Holidays offer not only free weddings, but also golf at no charge, kids’

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Fiji It doesn’t get any more tropical than a wedding on a tiny island in the South Paciﬁc. Weddings at Castaway Island, located off the coast of Fiji, begin with an escort and private car to the Nadi registry to pick up a licence (previously applied for) followed by a ceremony at the water’s edge. Adding to the experience, the Castaway family choir will sing before and during the big event followed by

a champagne cruise around the island. Ceremonies at Castaway can be as formal as you wish or relaxed and informal — it’s your choice. Visit castawayﬁji.com.

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FUN WITH Flowers are one of the most important parts of your wedding décor. Flowers add colour and elegance to your decor and help bring your theme to life. Most event coordinators will know all the tricks of the trade when it comes to choosing ﬂowers for different occasions. Colour schemes, budgets, rustic vs. modern, all of these details affect which ﬂoral arrangements are right for you. It’s important to remember to go with your own style. Couples should not feel pressured to decide on a more traditional style if that’s not something that suits them. Instead, choose a style that most appeals to you, be it neutral or bold colours, formal or casual. Your style might also reveal a

20 SPRING 2015 | HITCHED

preference for something other than roses, which is perfectly alright. It’s your wedding. If budget is your main concern, and it is in most cases, stay inseason when possible. When choosing a floral arrangement, it’s important to consider when you’ll be getting married and which flowers will be in-season. It’s possible to find most floral varieties all year, but if you choose seasonal flowers, you’ll likely pay less and those flowers will be more readily available and durable.

While some details are manageable wedding do it yourself projects, ﬂower arrangements tend not to be on that list unless you have had prior experience. The wedding day is going to be busy enough without brides and grooms having to worry about arranging the bouquets. A professional ﬂorist, ideally one who has come

highly recommended, should be able to work within your budget and produce a visually stunning end product to meet your high standards. In lieu of flowers, consider candles to save money. Many couples hope for a floral centerpiece at each table, but that can prove costly. If the floral budget is somewhat

limited, supplement the centerpieces with candles to save money. The centerpieces likely won’t be as grandiose, but smaller floral arrangements coupled with candles can create a romantic feel. Lastly, stick to your budget! Couples will find it’s very easy to go over budget quickly in regard to floral arrangements,

but a good ﬂorist should be able to work within your budget and produce an arrangement that’s visually impressive without costing a fortune.

Wedding Day 101 Your wedding is ﬁnally here! Here’s our “I do’s” to make sure you enjoy every moment of it and have memories that last a lifetime. ! Get a good night’s sleep. ! Eat a breakfast that sets you up for the day. ! Give yourself plenty of time to get ready. ! Wear a shirt when getting your hair and make-up done. ! Break in your wedding shoes before the big day. ! Forget about your cell phone – enjoy the moment!

! Stop to take it all in during the ceremony. ! Don’t drink too much! You want to remember it! ! Pack ﬂats for the reception. ! Make time on the day for those closest to you, including your parents. ! Dance! ! Remember why you’re there. HITCHED | SPRING 2015 21

LET IT RAIN Wedding showers that break from tradition. Rain showers on a wedding day may bring good luck, but they are seldom coveted. However, a different type of shower altogether is often highly anticipated and can help couples feel like they’re one in a million. Wedding showers are gift giving parties held for couples about to get married. The custom began in the nineteenth century and continues to present day, primarily in North America and Australia. Guests traditionally “shower” the bride to be with all the necessities (and some fun extras) that she will need after she ties the knot. These gifts will help the soon to be married couple establish a home together. Bridal showers are steeped in tradition, but today’s version 22 SPRING 2015 | HITCHED

continues to veer off the beaten path. Nowadays, bridal showers feature fun and games much like a party. TheKnot.com, a website that aims to help couples plan their weddings and all the events leading up to the big day, identiﬁes these key trends in modern bridal showers.

Couples’ showers Modern couples who like to be all-inclusive are now planning bridal showers that cater to mixed guests. Dubbed a “couple shower,” these parties include female and male friends and relatives. Gifts are still the main focus of the event, but they’re varied and include guy-friendly items

within the mix of household goods.

Power showers Many are familiar with the terms “man cave” and “bromance,” but few may know there are now wedding showers geared entirely around the groom. Known as “power showers,” these events focus on the groom to be, who is showered with a bevy of gadgets and power tools that are certain to stock his future garage. The parties are decidedly more testosterone friendly and can include golf outings, poker nights or action movie ﬂicks as possible themes.

Destination & activity showers Rather than having guests hang around a restaurant watching gift after gift get unwrapped,

some bridal parties opt to throw an activity shower. These showers are focused around a particular activity. For example, ladies may be treated to a day at the spa. Other ideas include horseback riding at a stable or a day at the ballpark. Because hosting an activity shower for dozens of people can get expensive, these types of showers may be reserved for only your closest friends and family members.

Bride involved showers The idea of walking into a room and being surprised by friends and family members is appealing to some brides to be, but not everyone. Some brides prefer not to be surprised by a shower and actually would like to have a role in the planning of the party.

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FAVOUR of the MONTH Gifts for guests not always on the plate

If you’ve been to a wedding, you’ve likely carted home the “thanks for coming and

celebrating our special day”gift. You know it’s usually the candied almonds or petriﬁed slice of fruit cake that remains tucked away, uneaten, in the recess of your pantry. Well, that’s changing. Today’s bride and groom are serving up gifts more likely to be eaten or remind guests not only of the big day when two people tied the knot, but the character of the new husband and wife.

business partner Sharon Lieu. “Others we’ve had gave away candy bars that were wrapped in the same colours as the wedding party — something that would remind their guests of them.”

That’s what wedding planners including Laura Takasaki are seeing these days. While edibles are still favourites on the list, more personalized items are the trend.

Wedding guest trinkets have their place in history. In the 16th century, wedding favours were a sign of extravagance and showed off the family’s wealth to the guests. Only rich and prominent people during those times could afford and provide sophisticated gifts to their guests. Some favours symbolized luck and sharing them with guests ensured good fortune to all.

“We’ve had gifts be bottles of hot sauce because the groom was the one who loved hot sauce on pretty much everything he ate,” said Takasaki, who for the past 12 years has run Richmondbased Imagine That Events with

Bonbonnieres were once a popular wedding favor. A bonbonniere is a small, decorative box made of porcelain, crystal or gold. Inside the box houses a sweet delicacy, often called a bonbon.

Almonds became common favours because they symbolized fertility, health, happiness, wealth and longevity. While almonds may have gone out of style, so too has the insistence that all wedding guest gifts be edible. “We’re getting more and more clients who instead of giving away something will make a donation to a charity of their choice,” Takasaki said. “We’ve also had a bride and groom who gave a cheese plate made of slate and a cheese knife. Now, slate isn’t inexpensive, so that was probably the most elaborate we’ve had.” While that likely exceeded the $2 to $5 per person gift cost, which is today’s rule of thumb, it carried with it a special meaning, Takasaki said.

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The Professional We sat down with Vancouver photographer and art director, Jun Ying from Kunioo Photo + Cinema to talk weddings pics. The topic seems simple enough. Hire a photographer and relish in the memories forever. But there are important things to consider when choosing your photographer and prepping for your sessions. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Jun had to say. Have the photographer attend the rehearsal. It is important for them to be in the space and learn how the light behaves. This is also a great opportunity for family members to get to know the photographer so they feel comfortable around him or her.

Send your wedding day schedule two weeks prior to your big day. Your photographer will need to look at your itinerary and give some pointers on what is or is not realistic. For example, photo session time, getting ready, commuting, position of the sun and locations.

Get to know your photographer on a personal level. It goes without saying the more comfortable you feel, the more

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Selﬁe comfortable you act, and the more natural and candid your photos will look. It’s important to feel comfortable kissing and being intimate around them. An engagement picture is about more than just a romantic photo shoot. It acts as a practice round between you and your photographer. You get to know one another and learn the styles you like and don’t. Be careful not to be too demanding in your art direction. Remember you are hiring them for their style and creative license they bring to the table. Choose a photographer that “shoots for the album.” Photography is about telling a story which should be told in multiple images as if it’s a movie. A wedding album is composed of all your family and friends, the small details you pained over, the little shared moments and all the candid occasions throughout the

Remember you are hiring them for their style and creative license they bring to the table.

day. Ask to see examples of how they’ve capture a whole wedding. They may have great individual shots on their website, but it’s the story telling you want to judge them on. Provide the photographers with meals and a proper table. “Don’t forget about us, we get hungry too. Refuel them so they can continue capturing your wedding with great energy.”

THE ICING ON YOUR WEDDING DAY Bespoke Cupcakes, Cakes & Sweet Tables

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Megan &Mike A real wife’s (fairy)tale

Megan first set eyes on her husband to be at her Grade 12, high school dance, which Mike attended as his cousin’s “plus one.” He wrote his number on the back of his dance ticket and a few weeks later Megan called him and they went on their first date. The rest, as they say is history... Mike proposed as the sun went down on their 11th anniversary trip to the Grand Canyon. They tied the knot exactly one year later on their 12th anniversary. While they decided not to go for a particular theme, the words natural, earthy and vintage evoke the type of atmosphere they created. It was also important the day was unique to them so they enlisted the help of friends and family to craft personal touches such as handmade wedding invitations and candle holders. The bride’s sister created flower balls to decorate the room and they avoided using expensive centre pieces by placing a framed picture of themselves on every table.

MEGAN & MIKE’S WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY KUNIOO PHOTO + CINEMA

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Megan had originally bought a dress on sale which she sold after she found “the one” a few weeks later. She knew early on which shape and style she was looking for, but tried on everything just to be sure and admits she

liked some dresses she hadn’t expected to. Her friends made rating cards ranging from “Meganalicious” to “LOL” (Lowest of Lows), to aid in the hard task of dress selection! She feels their best investment of the day was the wonderful team of four photographers at Kunioo Photo + Cinema, who not only provided them with 800 beautiful shots of their day, but also captured the whole event on ﬁlm. Megan strongly recommends future couples invest in wedding coordinators for the day so that they can arrange the logistics and make sure everyone is paid, while you and your wedding party enjoy yourselves. The most special part of the day for her was exchanging vows, which they had both written themselves. At the recommendation of the celebrant, they also incorporated a wine box which contained a letter to one another, written on the night before their wedding, and a bottle of rum, which they are allowed to open if they ever have a ﬁght and need to be reminded of their vows to one another. We wish them every happiness in their future together and hope their wine box remains closed!

WHAT WAS THE MOST SPECIAL PART OF THE DAY?

Exchanging our vows. WHAT WAS THE MOST STRESSFUL PART OF THE DAY?

Remembering the routine we had practiced and perfected for our ямБrst dance. WHAT WAS YOUR BEST INVESTMENT?

Our professional photographers. They brought so much to the table.

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From hotels that use solar power to reception halls that rely on locally sourced foods, there are plenty of ways to turn weddings into entertaining and eco-friendly affairs.

Encourage guests to carpool Ditch the sedan or limousine and rent a party bus that can ﬁt many of your guests!

Recycle your gold or silver Rather than buying new rings, transform old jewelry into rings by having the metal melted down and formed.

Let your love grow Opt for edible favors, seeds or plants or even donations to charitable organizations.

Cut it Cut back on the amount of paper you use by printing your invitations on recycled stock and limiting any additional content like direction cards. Have guests use a website to learn about

timeless symbolizes memories treasure. CHINA is

hotel accommodations and respond to the wedding invite.

Style your hair naturally Natural loose hairstyles can look beautiful on your wedding day and help the environment too!

Pick ﬂowers in-season Be eco-friendly by buying locally grown, in-season ﬂowers instead of imported blooms, which have high carbon footprints.

Rent or borrow whenever possible Opt for rentals when possible or consider buying a vintage dress.

Bee eco Opt for non-toxic beeswax candles as an eco-friendly way to provide romantic lighting at the wedding.

Looking for the perfect wine for your perfect wedding?

Look no further…..

that you

Vintage China to mix and match for a bridal shower, tea party, wedding table or special gift.

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Pacific Breeze is the first “Garagiste” (Garage Winery) in Canada. Family owned and operated, we are an International Award winning winery producing hand crafted small lot wines. We produce “BIG” Full-bodied Reds and luscious white wines to enjoy for all occasions. Since our first release March 2007, we have won over 50 International Medals. We fuss over every small lot and barrel in making some of the very best wines found in Canada and the world for that matter.

Classic

THE

The Classic - alumni UBC has been operating Cecil Green Park House for more than 40 years, establishing it as a premier Vancouver event space that lends itself perfectly to weddings. Situated on the northwest corner of the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus, Cecil Green Park House is a handsome mansion commanding spectacular views of the mountains and sea that frame Vancouver. In 2014 it was named Best Wedding Reception Venue by BC Wedding Awards, and Best Venue and Ceremony Location by the Canadian Wedding Industry Awards for the BC Region. For couples who want an elegant and traditional setting for their big day, this heritage house is hard to beat. You can begin with a seated ceremony in the private garden, surrounded by nature, and then host a cocktail hour on the covered terrace, followed by a full seated dinner for up to 110 guests. Alternatively, the house seats up to 150 guests inside. Dedicated staff are available to help from start to finish to ensure a perfect day.

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info@cecilgreenpark.ubc.ca cecilgreenpark.ubc.ca

Classic

THE MODERN

The Modern Classic - alumni UBC is thrilled to announce that The Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre will open its doors on May 1, 2015. This distinctive new venue is the ideal spot for modern classic weddings or other private celebrations, and boasts a striking contemporary design with exposed cedar ceilings, rich stone tiling, a large metal fireplace and expansive glass walls that allow natural light to flood in. It sits in a prime location right at the heart of the revitalized UBC Vancouver campus, close to transit stops and parking. The main celebration space has a dance floor and can accommodate up to 250 people. There is also a stylish lobby on the first floor, where guests can enjoy cocktails. You don’t need to be a UBC grad to book this space, but if you are preferred rates apply. The Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre is partnered with Cecil Green Park House and can offer special pricing for guests who would like to host a ceremony in the classic setting of the house, before moving to the centre for a modern classic reception.

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info@alumnicentre.ubc.ca alumnicentre.ubc.ca

PRIVATE

ROMANTIC

STYLISH

Everything you’ve ever wanted in one good-looking package.

It’s the little There are so many details and dollars to consider when planning your big day. You want to make sure it’s a special day for you, but also ensure it’s fun and memorable for your guests. Thankfully, we have you covered with our list of 10 foolproof ways to guarantee your wedding is an unforgettable day for everyone.

Cocktail hour Pass around hors d’oeurves and Champagne for guests to enjoy before your reception starts. It’s a great way to get guests mingling and ready for the celebrations to ensue.

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Birthday and anniversary mentions

Games

Setting up games in the garden, hall, or beach is a fun way for guests to spend their time between the ceremony and reception. Croquet, Jenga, hopscotch… the possibilities are endless.

If any of your guests are celebrating their own birthday or anniversary, why not have the MC or DJ announce it or play them a special song. If you really want to make a statement, have a little cupcake sent to them with a candle to blow out.

Valet parking Most wedding venues provide on-site valet parking. However, if you’re using a restaurant or banquet hall that does not provide this service, you can hire a valet company to do it for you. Being able to exit the car right in front of the venue and not worry about ﬁnding a space is a dream come true for any driver.

Midnight snacks Who doesn’t get hungry after a few drinks and an evening of non-stop dancing with the newlyweds? Pizza, sliders or a cheese and charcuterie station will have guests praising your brilliance.

Wedding cake in the afternoon It may sound crazy, but usually when the cake comes out after dinner, most guests are full. Serving cake after the ceremony with some Champagne will be a treat!

Hotels

Photo booth

Table quiz

To help your out of town guests, you can reserve a block of rooms at a nearby hotel. They regularly get those requests, and can often offer a discounted rate for the event.

Who doesn’t love a good photo booth? You can hire a company to do this for you or do it yourself. Buy your own props from a dollar store, create a fun backdrop (there are so many great ideas on Pinterest), and set your camera up on a tripod with a ﬁve second self timer.

This is such a fun way to get to know everyone at your table. Give each table a list of ﬁve questions about the bride and groom. First table to get all the answers correctly wins a prize!

Welcome packs When a guest checks into their hotel after a long drive or ﬂight, how amazing would it be to ﬁnd a goodie bag waiting for them? This doesn’t have to be expensive, and can include tips on what to see and do, where to eat, baked cookies and any local delicacies the location has to offer.

things...

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Love shines at the Diamond Cocktails and canapés in historic Gastown

If she had her way, they would have eloped. Molly Donnici wanted to avoid the trappings of a traditional wedding – mainly because of the sometimes-awkward and lengthy speeches, along with the public displays of emotion.

“We just omitted the things that weren’t important to us and had some really important people that were with us,” Molly says.

Having the wedding at one of the city’s most stunning and quaint lounges suited the couple’s urban vibe while still meeting their families’ need for a good old-fashioned get together. Paul, a barber at Belmont Barbershop on Broadway and Main Street in Vancouver, comes from a big Italian family, so the idea of running off to get hitched didn’t really sit well with him, Molly says. In the end, even though the pair weren’t married in a church, his family was pleased with the nuptials. “I just think they were happy we were getting married,” laughs Molly, an assistant buyer at Litchﬁeld, a luxury goods store on Water Street.

But, as a compromise, Molly and her then-ﬁancé Paul Donnici opted for a low-key affair with canapés and cocktails at the Diamond, a lounge and restaurant with historic charm overlooking Maple Tree Square in the heart of Gastown. The Donnici’s May 2014 wedding was more cocktail party than conventional nuptials, but still had all the warmth of a traditional wedding.

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It’s hard not to appreciate the Diamond; it’s a space that evokes the feeling of old New York with its exposed brick walls and towering windows. “The room itself was beautiful,” Molly says. “I didn’t want to have to decorate. I didn’t want to do anything. We got there, it looked gorgeous and, literally, at the end of the night we walked away. There was nothing else to do.”

The weather couldn’t have been more cooperative in setting the tone for the sexy lounge wedding, which was held on a Sunday evening. The rain had trickled down throughout the day, but cleared by evening, making for one of those clean Vancouver spring nights when the air smells fresh and moist and anything feels possible.

While gorgeous outside light shone in on the candle-lit room, it was Molly’s dress that was the evening’s defining decoration. The curvy stunner, with long golden hair, wore a fitted white sequined cocktail number that sat just above the knee. The dress, which she hunted for after seeing it on a blog, fit in perfectly with the glamorousyet simple vibe of the wedding, which closed the Diamond at 1 a.m. The cocktails continued flowing at a party held at a wedding guest’s

Gastown ofﬁce. The exhausted newlyweds stopped in to the after party for a few minutes before sneaking away to their suite at Vancouver’s charming boutique hotel the Loden.

In the end, the urban-chic wedding cost the couple just $8,500, which they managed to pay for in full, leaving no leftover debts to deal with as they started their lives together.

Top 10 Most Romantic Top 10 First Dance Wedding Movies Songs of Last Year Need a rest from planning but still want to keep your mind in the wedding zone? We’ve picked our top 10 wedding movies so you can cosy up with your loved one before your own big day. Enjoy!

Someone asking what your favourite song is can be daunting enough, let alone choosing a song you will remember for the rest of your life. Thankfully DJ Chris from bcdj.ca has provided us with a list of the top 10 wedding songs of 2014.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

My Best Friend’s Wedding The Princess Bride Four Weddings and a Funeral Wedding Crashers Sex in the City Muriel’s Wedding Father of the Bride Made of Honor 27 Dresses The Wedding Singer

All Of Me John Legend I Won’t Give Up Jason Mraz Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran Grow Old With Me Tom Odell God Gave Me You Blake Shelton You Are The Best Thing Ray Lamontagne Mean To Me Brett Eldredge Adore You Miley Cyrus First Day Of My Life Bright Eyes If I Didn’t Have You Thompson Square

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Make it “ofﬁciant”

The ﬁgure eight is believed to represent the symbol for inﬁnity, so with that in mind we’ve come up with eight top tips for writing your wedding vows, which will last happily ever after!

36 SPRING 2015 | HITCHED

While you might have lots you would like to say, it is worth speaking to your ofﬁciant ﬁrst and to make sure personalized vows are allowed. During civil ceremonies it’s often acceptable to customise your vows, however this is not always the case with religious services. There may be lines of scripture or certain passages that need to be read so best to check before you dedicate a lot of time to writing.

Schedule time for your writing Your vows are not something you can scribble down frantically on the back of the Order of Ceremony, hours before

reaching the alter! Good vows require time and effort, especially if you want to perfect them before your big day. Treat your writing time like an appointment by marking it on your calendar or setting reminders – weeks, or better, a few months in advance. You can always go back to them.

Start from the heart Staring at a blank page can be daunting so start by jotting down your feelings. Think about what marriage and your future spouse mean to you. Reference your personal experiences together. What is the most important thing you want to promise your partner? It doesn’t have to be perfect at this stage and, if you’ve taken the advice

from tip two, you’ve still got plenty of time to make changes. Treat this as your starting point.

Be inspired If ﬁnding the right words is giving you writer’s block, why not try reading the work of others? Is there an author or poet who inspires you? You can even quote certain writers in your vows or let the tone of their work shape the words of yours.

Tone it up And that’s not a reference to your pre-wedding ﬁtness regime! It is important to decide on a tone which you feel comfortable using. Don’t be afraid to tap into your personality. After all, it’s your day. It might not be your style to spout words of adoration in front of friends and family and that’s okay! Feel free to use

humour if that’s the way you normally express your affections. That said, a stand-up comedy routine might be inappropriate so try tying in this tone in with more traditional passages to create a cohesive, yet personal, expression of your feelings.

Make a plan While you might ﬁnd it easy to talk about your loved one and that hilarious “had to be there moment” for hours, it is important to keep everyone engaged and the ceremony moving along. Read your notes, pick out the key elements and use them to create a structure for what you want to say. Aim to keep your speech to about one minute long. This will also mean you have slightly less to try to remember on the day, which is always a plus.

Pictures capture and lock in memories for a lifetime. Have you thought about your smile?

Practice makes perfect Although clearly not in front of your partner! Reading your vows aloud will give you the opportunity to identify any areas that make you trip up, and let’s face it, that’s the last thing you want to be thinking about on your walk up the aisle! Better still, enlist the help of a friend to listen to your vows and give their advice on how they

sound. This will also give you an indication of how you feel saying them in front of an audience.

Break a leg Not literally! You know what we mean. This is a ﬁnal note of encouragement to just go for it! Public speaking can be nerve wracking, but remember this is about you and your promises to the person standing opposite you. No one else matters.

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Leave it to the Professional wedding planners Daniela and Sahara from Modern Mint Events, share their wisdom on what to do now that you’re engaged.

Make a guest list

Congratulations! You’re engaged! What an amazing, indescribable feeling. Now take a deep breath and enjoy it for a moment. Now that you’ve had a chance to process it, here are 10 things to do after he, or she, pops the question.

Yes, we know it’s early, but this is the ﬁrst step to planning the big day. Have an “A” list and “B” list and later if someone from you’re “A” list can’t make it or your budget increases, you can start inviting from your “B” list.

Share the news We know how tempting it is to shout it out and start texting friends, but it’s essential you ﬁrst tell your parents, immediate family and closest friends. Skip the text and give them a call or surprise them with a visit.

Set a budget Any big project needs a strong foundation. In wedding planning, that’s your budget. Now that doesn’t mean you need major funding, you just need to ﬁgure out what you’re comfortable spending. Once you have that number, it will help avoid future arguments and narrow down your options.

Get a manicure Get ready to show off that bling! And there has literally never been a better time to splurge and get a professional manicure. Stay away from funky, over the top designs. The best colours to compliment your new rock are nudes and light pinks.

Get that ring insured There’s a good chance you’re going to put this off, but DON’T! Imagine for a moment how you would feel if you lost the ring… now prevent all that heartache and just get it insured.

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Envision your big day Set a date You’re going to be bombarded with questions about the date of the wedding. It will save you lots of headaches if you set a rough date. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to know the exact date, just a certain month or even the year will do for now.

Plan an engagement party Do this while the news is still fresh and exciting. Whether you want a grand event or a simple dinner with 10 of your closest family and friends at home, give those who love you a chance to celebrate what’s to come for the two of you.

Start talking about what you want your big day to look and feel like. Are you envisioning a formal event at a grand hotel or a casual backyard barbeque? You and your ﬁancé may be on different pages so start talking and ﬁguring out what would make you both happy.

professionals Hire a planner Yes, we may be a little biased on this one, but trust us, not hiring a planner or day-of coordinator is a bad idea. And don’t mistake the venue planner with a wedding planner. Their duties are completely different. Invest in the right professionals who will create a once in a life time experience.

Enjoy this magical time in your lives!

Take it one day at a time Don’t overwhelm yourself from the start. Wedding planning is a big job so take a deep breath and tackle one task at a time. Again, invest in a planner who can make your journey a lot easier and enjoyable. Don’t forget to take breaks from planning and just enjoy each other’s company. Plan date nights where you don’t talk about the wedding.

SAVE THE DATE DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY BY MANUEL PAYAN

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have a fun wedding!