The years have flown by and during a conversation the other day with my business partner/husband John, we began thinking about the number of Wedding Guides we have published and the number of area brides we have been privileged to share our wedding expertise with. We’ve laid out and proofed guides at the cottage, at the onset of the Gulf War, through our son’s minor illnesses, and during the unexpected loss of my mom, who always cheered me on. In her memory, The Canadian Cancer Society will always be included in our pages.
Holding the franchise for the Ontario region, we are part of a group of over 100 cities throughout the U.S., Great Britain and Australia. The Wedding Guide is the largest bridal planner in North America, marrying a multitude of brides annually in local city areas.
Publishing twice a year, we have been privy to over 30,000 weddings, during the past 17 years; brides and grooms who chose us for their wedding planning. We have gotten to know the best in the industry and recommend them and sing their praises, whenever we can.
Considered to be the wedding experts in this area, covering everything weddings from the “I Will” to the ‘ “I Do”, we have to acknowledge and salute our network of wedding professionals, who are there helping couples achieve their dream weddings. It is our belief that products and services originate from people who have ongoing professional interest in the wedding market and we are blessed with many talented professionals. It is a wonderful feeling to know that we are sharing the most important day of a couple’s life.
A wedding marks the beginning of an important time for a bride and her fiancé, and our publication contains great information and ideas in an extensive resource that addresses every detail of a wedding day. The digest sized format is convenient to carry to appointments and it is a valuable companion, practical and specific to this area.
http://www.theweddingguide.ca contains checklists, timetables, an interactive budget calculator (don’t miss this useful tool), Special Offer coupons and advice, while keeping a bride’s wedding plans organized. (See “Planning Tools” for printable checklists, wedding party duties, vendor deposit forms; everything to keep organized.
With a new website, around the corner, which is 21st century savvy in real time, we are excited to continue to deliver to this community what brides want and need.
Our reach has migrated to the social online networks with pages on Facebook and Twitter. Our new social online ‘widgets” are becoming an emerging bridal trend, as brides personalize their social pages with their very own, customized interactive, hi-res video players. We know relatives and family friends who cannot attend the wedding appreciate being part with these neat items. And, our announcement of WGNN, Wedding Guide News Network eight months ago is coming closer to being a reality for all the brides.
It is our belief that products and services originate from people who have ongoing professional interest in the wedding market and we are blessed with many talented professionals. Each category on our current website will direct you to a sampling of the vendors, with direct links to their respective websites. You will find many more wedding professional, throughout the pages of The Wedding Guide.
Portable in size, The Wedding Guide has been developed to help the bride make the correct choices, and to enjoy their engagement; a time that should be filled with joy, hopes and dreams- not stress. Our professional vendors understand a bride’s needs and are there to help handle the protocol and details and always available with new ideas and services.
To get The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County delivered to your inbox, please go to: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheWeddingGuide-Windsor/essex
Remember, “For Perfect Wedding Planning at Your Fingertips”, The Wedding Guide is the resource of choice.
Best wishes with your wedding day planning and for a happy life together. Please feel free to email us with any questions you may have regarding weddings in Windsor/Essex County.
Until later,
Sheryl Davies
Publisher
“Here’s to the bride and groom- May their joys be as bright as the morning, and their sorrows but shadows that fade in the sunlight of love.” Anonymous
Top it off with personality
The trend is to personalize just about anything having to do with your wedding. Why not your cake as well? Creative displays of monograms and the names of the bride and groom are topping layers of wedding cakes. From silver initials studded with crystals to subtle monograms in the frosting décor of the cake layers, it’s just another way to add a symbol of your new bond to the elements of your wedding day celebration. A cake topper with your initials joined together in or by a heart is a contemporary way to adorn your wedding cake with something much more personal than a stature of a bride and groom or a spray of flowers. You can even include flowers along with this signature design element. Another unique idea in toppers include one-of-a-kind glass hand-blown artworks.
Layers of fun
Today’s wedding cake bakers are creatively stretching the idea of what the traditional wedding cake can become. It used to be that choosing different flavours for each layer was somewhat cutting-edge, though it’s probably become more the norm when it comes to having a unique cake. In fact, some cakes might not be layered at all- there may be an assortment of four to five cakes, all varying in size, colour, and flavour, that are combined to make a wedding cake display. One of the hottest wedding cake designs today is that of layers of ornately decorated pillows (imagine the finest available to carry your ring down the aisle) stacked one on top of another. Today’s cakes incorporate all types of colour as well, and cake designers are not limited to the whites and creams of yesteryear. We are also seeing cupcakes remain as a cute trend as well as the emerging trends of macarons, a pastry with a colourful topping that can be hollowed and filled with gelato, cream or sorbet. Get more information on what you’ll need to think about when it comes to your wedding cake with The Wedding Guide.
Look perfect on your big day
If you believe the dress is the most important thing you’ll wear on your wedding day, think again. Your groom and your guests will forever remember your radiant face, sparkling eyes and elegant hair. The dress catches their attention only because it enhances your natural beauty. Nearly every woman wishes a team of professionals would arrive on the scene first thing every morning to make her look perfect and camera ready. But this luxury is actually a necessity for brides, according to wedding experts. Professional assistance is beauty insurance.
Don’t forget the moms
The biggest fashion decision for a wedding is, of course, the wedding gown itself. Next comes the attire for the attendants. Since the search for the perfect Mother-of-the-Bride dress may include a special order or custom tailoring, right after the bride and attendant attire is chosen is the perfect time for the bride to talk to the mothers about their ideas for the dresses. The bride should discuss her preferences of lengths, colours and styles with both/all mother. It’s important that the mothers’ gowns do not conflict with the colour of the attendants’-oftentimes because of this consideration, more neutral colours are worn by one or both mothers. A few traditions seem to hold when it comes to choosing Mothers’ attire: these dresses should never be longer than the bride’s or attendants’ gowns. The same goes for the style: they should not be more formal or lavishly decorated than the bride’s gown. Many bridal salons offer diverse selections of mothers’ gowns, check out our trusted salons online.
Shoe tips
Since you and your bridal party will be on your feet all day, and maybe much of the night, it’s important to pick wedding day shoes that are not only beautiful, but comfortable as well. Take into consideration all the wear and tear that you shoes will have to endure and add tip0s to protect the bottoms and heels of your shoes. If your shoes, or more likely your bridesmaids’ are dyed to match, you may want to also have them scotch guarded in order to protect them from rain and snow. Most wedding fashion salons have shoes for sale and can give you expert advice on what shoes work best with different types of attendant and bridal attire. Begin your quest for the right shoes early and try to break them in a little before the big day. Today’s bridal shoes are absolutely stunning and for shoe-loving brides, you’ll have a blast finding your perfect pair!
Until later,
Sheryl Davies
Publisher
Perfect Wedding Planning @ Your Fingertips since 1992
Expert advice
Here at The Wedding Guide office, we live, eat and breathe weddings. If you have a specific question about protocol, etiquette or something that may be unclear to you, please go to “Ask the Editor” online for your private one-on-one conversation.
If you have a specific question about protocol, etiquette or something that may be unclear to you, please go to “Ask the Editor” online for your private one-on-one conversation.
Facebook and The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County
As your local web portal for this area, www.theweddingguide.ca, we are constantly adding information to our Facebook site daily. Check in and see what’s new, what’s exciting and what’s cutting edge. These are tips that will make your wedding day go more smoothly.
Social Media Widgets We do these unique and innovative online social app tools for brides. Share with all your friends, family and wedding party, near and far. The cost is reasonable and the widget can be shared on all social media pages with your friends. (Facebook, Twitter and 50 more. For more information, contact us at dmscommunications.info or call us 519-252-8463.
Special Offers Online
Our wedding professionals have provided special money-saving offers to help you with your wedding cash flow. Check our online Special Offers, top right hand side to save money.
Planning Tools from us
Online under Planning, did you know that you can print out checklists, budgets, timetables and duties for your wedding day? Check out our handy organizational tools at www.theweddingguide.ca
Fabric Makes the Difference
Though you may fall in love with a particular style wedding dress, the fabric in which the dress is created can make it truly spectacular. Familiarize yourself with wedding dress fabrics, as certain ones are better suited to different weather and in creating a particular ambiance. For instance, tulle is often used as an overskirt in creating those fairytale gowns you may have dreamed of since you were a little girl. Different types of silks breathe better in the heat of summer while medium to heavy weight types of silks like Dupont or Peau de Soie, work well for dresses to be worn in the winter months. It truly pays to bone up on your fabric knowledge if you are having a custom-made gown of your own design.
Guy Wear
Though tuxedos are the typical choice for menswear for today’s modern weddings, they do come with many more choices than the typical white shirt, black bow tie, cummerbund, jacket, pants and suspenders. In fact, today’s tuxedos and accessories often incorporate more style and colour than the suits worn in past years past. Vests are often used with, or in place of, cummerbunds and come in various colours and fabrics. Bow ties, neck ties and ascots are often coordinated with the fabrics of the best or cummerbund as well. Cuff links and studs are not only functional, but are used as high-fashion accents to enhance the entire look of the tuxedo they are worn with.
Wedding Day Assistance Maybe you couldn’t afford the services of a wedding consultant to plan your entire wedding. Or maybe you loved planning your own wedding but would prefer to have someone else take charge on your special day, so you can just relax and enjoy yourself. Hire a wedding consultant for the day! Provide clear, detailed notes and instructions for anyone that fills this special role for you. This could be the biggest luxury; or necessity- you give yourself!
Double check the details
Even though you may be a perfectionist, you’ll want to double (and maybe even triple_ check all your wedding day details. The perfect time to double check all the essentials is when you are getting ready to go to print with your invitations. Confirm the day of the week, date, time and location of your ceremony and reception. Go over the guest list to ensure there are enough invitations (including a few extra for addressing mishaps). Verify that you didn’t inadvertently miss putting someone on the list. You would be devastated if they weren’t a part of your wedding day. It’s a great idea to have your groom and someone else from both sides of the family review the list as well. Of course, carefully check the spelling of all the names and locations on your wedding invitation. If you haven’t ordered your invitations yet, check out our list of expert stationers. www.theweddingguide.ca
Keeping everyone happy
It would be great if there were an inside secret that would help make everyone happy on your wedding day, but unfortunately, there is no such thing. Keep in mind, while it is nice to be able to comply with other’s wishes, itis your wedding day. While considering any special needs of your family and friends, remember to be true to your feelings and values. Rest assured that those who love you will honour your choices. Take complaints with a grain of salt; there is always a perfectionist in every group that gathers together. Who knows, it may even be you! Whatever glitches may occur, make sure to relax, take it in stride and most of all, and enjoy your day.
Great new flavours
Though chocolate is still one of the most popular wedding cake flavours, new flavours always seem to make their way into today’s wedding cakes. The emergence of Latin cuisine into today’s mainstream culinary choices has brought the decadent flavours of dulce de leche (“sweet milk”, otherwise known as caramel), and trés leches (three milks- sweetened condensed, evaporated and regular) to super special wedding cakes, plated desserts, and even ice cream. Some popular and often unusual flavours today include: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, Kahlua white Russian cake, cheesecake with strawberry filling, lemon with lemon curd filling, chocolate truffle, angel food with raspberry filling, banana chocolate chip, mocha cake and hazelnut filling, and even a cannoli cake. Make sure you schedule a tasting before selecting your wedding cake. Check out our article on wedding cakes so you can chose your dream cake and find your dream bakery.
Macarons are the new, hot pastry item and they can be served with sorbet, gelato, ice cream or just plain with a dollop of whipped cream Yummy!
Until next time,
Sheryl Davies
Publisher
The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County
Southwestern Ontario’s Official Bridal Magazine, planner & websiteServing brides for 17 years with local, expert advice.
As the publisher of The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County, I enter this new decade focused on everything bridal and technology! Funny combo-pack for a gal that has been in the wedding marketplace for over 20 years, both in urban Toronto and friendly Windsor.
It all started with our new widget that DMS Communications CTO Stuart built for us, that simply amazed me. He has been on the trail of perfection for this product, for over a year now, and was recently recognized for his work by Gigya, the world’s largest developer of social applications, which widgets fall into.
When we made the decision to revamp our website after a seven year run, and enter the new decade in a more savvy manner; Stuart jumped on it and began to create. Who else can send a blog message directly to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc., the way I am going to, when I finish this article?
It’s uncanny how seamlessly my blog and website blend together to work in unison with one another. A timesaver for sure, but the added bonus is that not only can I be creative as I write these blogs; I can also add my widget, and sent it out to all my group friends and clients at one push of the keyboard, as well as post it to all the Social Networks at the same time. Awesome..awesome…awesome!
Social marketing and brand recognition are key to standing above your competitors, in whatever your marketplace is. My widget brings potential clients to me and my website sends my widget back out immediately, as my readers share it with their Facebook, Twitter and email contacts. Better than the mailman!
This widget format is being used by not-for-profit organizations, musicians, brides, business, press release tools- virtually however deep your imagination runs there’s a custom design waiting for you. Stuart is cranking them out in every shape, size and creative format. They are the rage in social marketing.
As people increase their communcating online, the key for any business will be to capture and captivate. And, this is the way to do it.
Follow us, as we burst into 2010. I will be sure to keep you up to date with Stuart’s future creations.
And, please check back in because our website is still under construction but it is going to knock your socks off when its completed!
Please contact me for any questions that you may have. It’s so simple and a great marketing with something so unique!
And, here is the widget link. Feel free to play with it- click away- you can’t break it and send it to someone on your list.
Making Dollars & Sense of a Wedding Budget- positive consensus!
In a report I recently read, it revealed that brides and grooms are very optimistic about their upcoming 2010 weddings. While the economy softens, bridal couples refuse to compromise on their big day saying its their once in a lifetime dream day and they will figure out how to make it happen- their way.
We, at The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County realize that there isn’t a bottomless budget with huge amounts of money to be spent , but some items will prove to be imminently more important than others due to their staying power.
Your Photographer- Your archivist!
You want to be able to look back at your wedding day and love the memory-making that your photographer captured. There is no way to go back and redo a wedding once its over, so ensure that you check your photographer’s references and make sure that their portfolio is a handsome one. Also, ask if the photographer you are meeting with will be the one shooting your day. It’s important to have a good rapport personality-wise with your shooter as you will be spending the entire day and night together.
Most photographers today do a combination of photo-journalistic style (candids) as well as some traditional shots. If your idea of pictures is spontaneous, then you won’t want to spend the day standing like statues, being posed.
Your First Trip as as a Married Couple!
Your honeymoon is an important piece of your planning because it is the separation between your single life and your future married days together. Find a place that you can both unwind and decompress after all the months of wedding planning. You want to do things you enjoy together and enjoy this delicious time away. Don’t compromise on your honeymoon- you’ll always remember it vividly and be able to recount together as a couple for your entire life.
And if you’re thinking of last minute travel plans- stop now and reconsider. Friends have done it, despite warnings and found themselves disappointed in sub-standard places that just weren’t suitable for a honeymoon.
Human Wedding Décor!
An artsy, actor friend of mine was recently hired to be a duo in a bride and groom “statue-like” feature at the reception. They held their poses, mannequin-like as decorative pieces in the hall, as well as mingling with the guests. It was a fun addition to the day and unique and fun!
Should you be interested in this type of entertainment- contact me and I can hook you up. I’m watching this as another new emerging trend as brides and grooms continue to personalize your days and put their signature style on everything about their wedding day.
Social Media Widgets
With the internet being the norm as day-day conversation, social online media is the newest way to share the journey of your engagement with loved ones far away. Connected to Facebook, Twitter and 50 other Social Online networks, you can now document your engagement to your wedding day, post it and watch it go global with your latest news. Add your pictures, video and words to our viewer and you have the best in today’s communication. Register for one and be part of the wedding social revolution.
These widgets are innovative, fun and practical gifts for you or your attendants! Introductory rate $199 plus tax. Our viewer protects your photographer’s copyright as your images can only be shared, not stolen. For examples, please go to The Aisle Widgets on the left hand column of this page. Or visit dmscommunications.info or 12flat.com NO ONE DOES WHAT WE DO FOR BRIDES!
Think too, about a webcast ceremony. It allows you to broadcast your vows in real time , online – instantly. What a priceless gift for you or your wedding party. For examples of big, small and in-between widgets go to The Aisle Widgets on the left side of this blog.
Sheryl Davies,
Publisher
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