You’re so close to being MARRIED! Use this guide to ensure you have covered everything you have to, before the ” Big Day.”
With so many weddings taking place in the next month- here is a great list of “to-do’s” for you to keep you stress-free and organized.
Pick up wedding rings; have them engraved if desired
Have engagement ring cleaned or polished
Confirm prices with suppliers; double check delivery or arrival timings
Pay any outstanding amounts to suppliers
Reconfirm all details with suppliers and staff involved on the day; this includes caterers, cakes,flowers, photographs, and hair and make-up stylists
Reconfirm all transport arrangements (locations and timing)
Confirm final numbers, dietary requirements and special requests with caterers
Draw up the final seating plan
Make up extra copies of the seating plan for the caterer, photographer and best man
Divide place cards into envelopes for the caterer, photographer and best man
Make a checklist of telephone numbers in case of emergencies on the day; local cab firms, the wedding party’s mobiles and suppliers- Also brief wedding party of what they need on the day
Draw up a list of important family and friends for the photographer, with a copy for the best man
Brief the best man on final payments due on the day, and supply cash or cheques, as required
Organize reserved seating for the ceremony and brief the ushers
Brief the best man and the chief bridesmaid on any final logistics and last minute details
Collect the wedding dress and bridesmaid’s apparel
Practise putting on the wedding dress with whoever will be helping on the big day
Try on the full bridal outfit- including jewelleryand lingerie- and practice walking in shoes
Order honeymooon currency/travellers cheques
Pack and organize luggage for the honeymoon; receive or renew your passport
Keep an eye on the weather forecast; make provision for adverse conditions (extra umbrellas, blankets, water, etc.
Trevor Booth is an exemplary and innovative award-winning photographer with a great eye for detail; he is meticulous about his work. Full of enthusiasm, he is always on the cutting-edge of any new trends in his field. His work is artistic and his style of digital story telling is unique, beautifully done and well received.
Trevor has been shooting weddings since 1991- full time since 2003 and he estimates that he has taken close to 20 million frame shots throughout the years. He has extensively traveled the world with his camera; always ready for the next great picture!
His motivation comes from seeing and hearing his brides and groom’s ecstatic reaction to his work. He continually tries to “out do” himself every time he is behind the camera, wanting each and every photograph to have the ability to stand on its own merit.
Loving the raw emotion of weddings, Trevor gets to know his couples well, which is of the utmost importance to him. That relationship gives him the clues to their personalities, which only enhances the photographs he takes.
Relaxed and easy going, his ability to transmit that calm, fun-loving nature to his clients is recognized immediately. Having fun is the key to getting those great shots. It is evident when viewing his work that he achieves just that! His couples have fun and they love the final results!
His style is non-traditional, but he will always take some formal portraits for Mom, Dad and posterity. Trevor stresses that there may be a lot of traditional photographers out there that cost less; but what he is able to do, requires a lot more talent and skill. Getting those great shots takes a great eye without disrupting the spontaneity of the moment. Candids, whether in the church or on a dream beach in Mexico are those priceless moments that only a good photographer can achieve.
A concern that Trevor has with new digital technology is that a lot of people think that they are great photographers but, in fact, lack the expertise. He understands that a good majority of the people know the difference between someone with a camera and a professional photographer, yet when it comes to booking photography services, this logic goes out the window. His main concern is that you only get one chance at your wedding day and it can never be recaptured. He hates to hear stories about disappointed couples who traded price for substandard results. After all, memory-making and marking this important milestone is what a wedding day is all about!
Trevor is willing to travel to any wedding destination, locally or around the globe. His enthusiasm for his craft is evident. Booth loves his work and his couples love him! His business has continued to grow with glowing referrals.
The ability to be part of one of his couple’s happiest days gives him great pleasure. “It’s a privilege to be there with their families and friends,” he says. ” I wouldn’t trade my job for anything,” he says with a big smile.
He’s proposed and you said, I will. You have dreamed of your wedding day and wearing that perfect gown, since you were a little girl. You want to feel radiant wearing it. It is your day of days!
Now, that day has arrived. It’s time to go bridal gown shopping! If you are considering making the drive across the border to get “something better” or “something cheaper”, think long and carefully. Make sure that your day is not marred by miscalculating what you thought the final cost would be. Remember too, that there’s the cost of the item and then, there’s the actual price. You and your fiancé have sharpened your pencil, setting a budget; but insist that you will have your day, your way. This is a busy time in your lives, one that is high-charged with emotion and a great deal of decision-making. You don’t need any additional pressure.
It may seem inviting to brides-to-be, to travel across the border to purchase their bridal attire, especially since we are so closely tied to the Michigan region. But, buyer beware. That extra, added time, expense and potential aggravation dealing with Canadian and U.S. Customs may jeopardize your most exciting purchase.
You may find yourself paying for alterations or that the “sale” is final. In Windsor/Essex area,when you buy your gown at the bridal salon, the alterations are included. Very few bridal stores, if any, will provide alteration services for gowns purchased from elsewhere.
Windsor and area bridal salons in southern Ontario carry the top bridal lines from all the great designers. They will make your shopping experience memorable . You must remember that the owners of our local stores are your neighbours, family and friends, who have invested time and money into our community. They establish their reputations by living and working here and being accountable.
Purchasing your dream gown usually takes 5 trips to the shop; one to look, one to decide and multiple times with yourself and your bridesmaids for fittings and pick- up. The additional expense of border-crossing fees and 90 minutes of your valuable time driving, excluding any delays at the border, bring any possible savings to zero. Asking your attendants to make these excursions with you can be infringing on their time and good nature.
One most also consider the potential of a crisis, days prior to your wedding. Who wants the aggravation of running across when you need that precious time for more important matters. Imagine finding a small tear in your gown’s fabric or a loose bead or button. What happens if you gain or lose weight due to stress after the alterations have been completed? Who is going to look after it and will be there be time available to remedy the problem? Securing a seamstress at the ninth hour can be a daunting task, when time is of the essence.
Bridal Specialists are dedicated to making the bride’s day beautiful. Buy from your local suppliers with confidence, and know that you are an important consumer to them and not someone transient. A bride’s pleasure translates to valued referrals that continue to make their business viable.
Be a savvy bride and assess the reality of how important your time and energy will be throughout your wedding planning process. Eliminate any possible problems early by being realistic.
Proudly serving area brides since 1992, The Wedding Guide, Windsor/Essex County salutes our network of wedding professionals who help Canada South Brides achieve their dream wedding!
“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
Welcome and congratulations. Your wedding is an event that marks the beginning of an important time for you and your fiancé. The Wedding Guide contains great information and ideas in an extensive resource that will assist you in planning each and every detail of your wedding day. Our smaller, digest size format makes it convenient to carry The Wedding Guide in your briefcase or purse. It is a valuable companion, practical, local and specific for your community. It contains checklists, budgets, advice, timetables and information on products and services to help keep your wedding plans organized. We will help you to plan a wedding, big or small in Windsor/Essex County; the one you dream about!
We’ve designed this website to give you a sample of great wedding information that is available in our publication. The Wedding Guide is complimentary and you may obtain your copy at leading bridal salons in this area.
Bridal Talk, our blogging and social media interactive website is an area where brides can interact with other brides. We have also launched Wedding Guide Bridal Network, (WGBN), where we are profiling local area professionals!
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 in Canada South. Each category on the left side of the website will direct you to the vendors, with direct links to their respective websites. You will find many more wedding professionals, throughout the pages of The Wedding Guide.
The Wedding Guide has been developed to help you make the correct choices, and to enjoy your engagement; a time that should be filled with joy, hopes and dreams- not stress. Our wedding professionals understand a bride’s needs and will be there to help you handle the protocol and details.
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.
In a report I read recently, it revealed that brides and grooms are very optimistic about their upcoming 2010/11 weddings. While the economy starts to point up again, 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- their milestone!
At The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County, we realize that there isn’t a bottomless budget with huge amounts of money to be spent , but some items will prove to be immenently more important than others due to their staying power. We’re here to help you make your day occur your way.
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. However, do remember to include family group shots for future viewing. It’s important to chronicle the generations that are at your wedding celebration for future posterity.
Your First Trip as a 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 us and we can recommend them to you directly. 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.
Until next time
Register and come back often and thanks for dropping in.
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Check us out today and also have your chance to be a Wedding Guide Bridal Blogger. Are you the one we are looking for? Contact us to share your thoughts on your wedding, your experiences and what you are planning.
It is important when choosing your Windsor/Essex County wedding photographer, that you and your fiancé discuss first, what pictures you definitely couldn’t live without and then, the rest will fall into place in the order of their importance and wedding day sequence.
This area has great photography talent within all different budget ranges and shooting styles.We also boast great location shots from the urban centre to county beaches and vineyard estates. Want to feel like fashion models? There’s, the zany and fun “Trash the Dress” session, as well as post-wedding picture-taking in unique and innovative locales.
Are you a traditional bride that wants the posed, tried and true pictures of your mother’s generation, or would you prefer a more candid, photo- journalistic style? Or, perhaps a combination of both?
What you don’t want to do is accept a gesture of kindness from a relative or friend who offers to take your pictures for you. Unless they are professionally trained, it is a risky proposition to agree to this kind of arrangement , although the offer is generous.
If your pictures don’t turn out well, or if the camera breaks or that person doesn’t show up- you have no second chance to make it right.
When establishing your budget for photography, budget a little extra, if your wedding photos and albums are an area of priority for the two of you. It will give you the flexibility to do that little extra, that you can look back at years from now with fond memories.
Today’s couples are putting their signature statement on every aspect of their wedding day planning and photography is no exception. From your “Save the Date” cards, shower invitations, rehearsal dinner and the wedding day itself, there will be many beautiful memories made and your images will be captured many times. By spending the time and deciding what it is that will make you both really happy, you will be relaxed and radiant in all your pictures. And, your photographer will be by your side, documenting your day, exactly the way it occurred!
The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County. Serving local area brides for 17 years.
Home of Bridal Idol and proud sponsor of Windsor’s Wedding Workshop.
Our mandate is to keep the bride-to-be organized, stress-free and plugged in to everything about weddings!
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“Here’s to the bride and groom-
