Winter Weddings Inspiration

Source: Pinterest

Still searching for some winter-inspired wedding ideas for your upcoming nuptials? We have got you covered - take a look at some of the most popular winter wedding posts we have shared over the years.

• Ideas to help you create your own unique winter wonderland
• Colour Palette Inspiration: Cool Blues and Warm Browns
• Winter Wedding Colour Themes
• A winter inspired Dessert Table
• Hand-knit Ring Pillows
• Inspired: A Sparkling Snow Kissed Wedding

Source: Ruffled

Want your winter wedding featured on our blog? Contact us about a Real Wedding Submission.

Halloween Party Planning

This past weekend, the family and I went out to a local farm for our annual hay ride and pumpkin patch adventure. This annual tradition is something I look forward to and really helps me to get into the Halloween spirit. As I explained in my last post, I tend to decorate for Halloween in a more sophisticated and rustic-chic manner, so I just had to pass along this inspiring vignette by Live Laugh Rowe.

Source: Live Laugh Rowe

Everything above is either vintage or DIY - I love how she incorporated different textures into the vignette. This would look fabulous on a front porch or in a front hallway, especially if you are throwing a Halloween party.

Looking for additional ideas? Check out another one of our posts featuring classic black & white Halloween décor.



Source: Urban Comfort


Last, but not least, we've put together a "cheat sheet" for those of you planning a Halloween party. Check out our five basic steps for party planning success.

For more inspiration, check out our "Holidays" board on Pinterest.

Wedding Colours 101 for 2013

Selecting your wedding colours can be a daunting task. Will they accurately reflect your style and personality as a couple? What about your choice in location and the season that your wedding is taking place in?  Well you can stop worrying - we are here to help!

For those brides-to-be out there already planning their 2013 wedding (and for those hoping to find a small ring box under the Christmas tree this holiday season), we have rounded up the hottest trends in wedding colours for 2013.

Aquamarine
Reminiscent of the ocean, this relaxing shade is perfect for an easy-going couple throwing a serene celebration.

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Lemon Zest

Let the sunshine in with this cheerful shade. An excellent choice for a Spring or Summer wedding. 

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Violet

Easily combined with other colours, this light shade of purple will set the mood for an elegant and romantic wedding day.



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Cerise

Outgoing? Fun-loving? Well if these adjectives describe your couple style then why not think of incorporating this shade of feel-good pink.

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Butterscotch

This decandent hue will help any couple pull off a polished and glamourous event.

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Tangerine

Pantone Colour of the Year 2012. This funky shade will continue to inspire brides into 2013. Perfect for the energetic couple looking to make their celebration stand-out.

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Pistachio Green

Look to this cool shade of green to inject a calming effect onto any wedding day.

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Q & A: Keeping The Kids Happy

Q: We're having a huge wedding and there will be lot's of kids attending the reception. I'd really like to keep them occupied so their parents can enjoy the party, do you have any suggestions?

A: Whether you're hosting a big wedding or a backyard BBQ, you can make the children in attendance feel special by providing them with quiet activities and toys to play with during the party to keep them busy and happy. If you don't want toys scattered around your venue, designate a Kid Zone spot with a table and chairs set up where they can colour and play to their hearts content.



{Photo Source: Intimate Weddings}



Q & A: Kids Birthday Party Advice

Q: I'm throwing a birthday party for my soon to be 5 year old daughter and I have everything ready to go. From the theme to decor, to the food being served, I'm all set. I just have one question, when would a good time be to let her open her birthday presents? I want to make sure she's not overtired by the time cake and present time arrive.

A: This is such a great question. While it's customary to wait until after the birthday candles have been blown out to open birthday presents, we understand sometimes the anticipation is way too much for the little birthday girl (or boy) to handle. It's really a matter of personal preference for the parents of how they want to handle this situation. If you're wavering on going the traditional route, here are a few tactics other parents we've worked have used for the gift opening dilemma.

• Opening gifts mid-way through the party and saving the birthday candle blowing ritual as a means of ending the party.
• Letting the birthday girl/boy open presents after the party has ended (in private) and then sending their gratitude with a personalized thank you card to each guest.
• Turn the gift opening into a fun activity like these ones from Party Kaboose:
• Turn gift-opening into a treasure hunt. Before the party, write clues which lead to various locations in your home. For instance, "If it's a gift that you want, it's a gift you'll see, when you look behind the TV." After children arrive, an adult hides the presents in the various locations. When it's time to open presents, the host hands one clue at a time to the birthday child who finds the gift and opens it on the spot.
• Form a circle with the birthday child at the head. Guests hold their gifts in their laps and going around the circle, guests hand presents one at a time to the birthday child who stops to open each gift before taking another. To make the circle strategy more festive, you might turn it into a game. Pass the presents slowly around the circle as music plays and when the music stops, the present that the birthday child is holding is the one that is opened next.



Q & A: Booking A Multi-Purpose Wedding Venue

Q: I just got engaged and have started the hunt for a perfect venue for our wedding next year. What are some things I need to consider before booking a venue?

A: This is a great question and our advice is to consider the following points when booking a wedding venue however, they ring true for any special event as well.

• If the ceremony and reception are in two different locations, you should consider the distance between each location.
• Can each location accommodate the same number of guests?
• What are the start times for each venue? Consider the time between the ceremony and reception as well as the reception's location (especially if guests are travelling and have to keep themselves busy between the two events).
• If you're considering one venue for both the ceremony and reception, ask if they have enough chairs for both the ceremony and reception. If not, will they have to be rented and who gets the final word on where they're rented. What is the additional cost?
• Will the venue host both the ceremony and reception in the same room? If so, how long of a turnaround time will they need between each event and what will your guests do to pass the time?

If you're looking for some local venues to host your special day, check out our Venue Spotlight's for some local venue reviews in the GTA  (Greater Toronto Area).


{Photo Source: Graydon Hall Manor}



10 Wedding Details Not to Miss: Part 1

OK all of you bride-to-be's, listen up. It's taken you approximately 25 years to find the perfect groom, another 6 months to find the perfect dress, 4 months of invitation shopping and multiple taste testings to get the cake just right. You've planned and planned, and planned some more. You may have even had a plan to do all the planning (we have to admit, we love this about you girls!).

We've seen it more than once, it takes so long to plan the big milestone events surrounding the wedding, that often couples forget about a few minor details. Join us in our two part mini series 10 Wedding Details Not to Miss for a few suggestions on the areas of wedding planning couples often overlook.

1. Point Your Guests in the Right Direction
Although you may think most of your guests will look up directions to the church/ceremony on their own, including a map and directions along with your invitations can help eliminate frantic phone calls confirming directions before your big day. Seriously, who wants to have their phone ringing off the hook the day before their wedding?

Another tip we can't stress enough to our brides: have some type of signage visible to guests as they arrive at the reception. Why signage? We know what you're thinking, this isn't a conference, it's an elegant reception that took months of planning, who wants tacky signs posted around the venue? If you're getting married in a hall that has multiple parties booked on the same night, having a sign pointing to where the reception is taking place is a great way to eliminate confusion. But don't worry, we're not talking about hand written signs that look like your ring bearer crafted. We're talking about beautiful signs mounted on foam core or framed and placed on a decorated easel like this one from Events By Nadia in Australia. We also like using signage to point out guest book instructions, gift tables, menu's, feature drinks being served or anything else you think your guests might appreciate knowing about.

2. Reserved Ceremony Seating
While it's common knowledge that the first few rows of chairs or pews (if in a church) are reserved for the wedding party and family members, it never fails, there's always one person who forgets and tries to sneak in the front row for an exclusive view of the happy couple. If you're worried about this happening, create reserved seating and ask your groomsmen to only escort those special people to the reserved spaces. Also, be sure to tell those special people that a seat awaits for them in the front row so they are aware ahead of time.

3. Guest Book Alternatives
These days, couples are getting pretty creative when it comes to their guest books. We love the guest book idea, but, rather than having a traditional book where guests can sign only their name, couples have turned to photo books, wish trees and cards with matching envelopes, where guests write marriage advice for the bride and groom. For some other creative ideas, visit The Offbeat Bride's blog.

4. Lighting, Lighting, Lighting
Whether it's from tea light candles, twinkly lights, dimmed lights or a funky light show, a wedding's theme or ambiance can be set by different lighting options in conjunction with (or without) specific decor. Not everyone has a huge decor budget to toss around so we like to suggest asking the venue if they can help set the mood with different lighting options. For a small fee (or sometimes none at all) your venue can show you creative ways to use lights to highlight the head table, center pieces or to set the general ambiance for the room.

5. Cake Table Details
It's so easy to get wrapped up in decor and centre piece planning for each guest table, but what about the cake table? While wedding cakes come in all sorts of elaborate and intricate designs, we find it's a nice touch to dress up the table with some tea light candles, rose petals or swags of fabric to really get guests to notice the cake. One more thing, don't forget to set out your cake cutting set!

Check back next week for Part 2 of our 10 Wedding Details Not to Miss series.

How to Get Your Hubby-to-Be Involved in Wedding Planning

Most guys would rather poke their eye out than help their wifey-to-be plan their wedding. The mere mention of table linens make their eyes glaze over! Trust us, we've seen it happen.

Rather than drafting a to-do list a mile long for your man (and forcing him to complete each item) try these tips on how to get him more involved in the planning process. We guarantee at least one should work (we should know, we tested them out on our husbands).

Ask him for his opinion and make him feel like it actually counts. Your wedding binder might scare him so instead of showing him 10 different bouquet styles, narrow your wish list to the two or three that you love and ask him for help choosing. OK, so maybe flowers will make his eyes glaze over but at least you've done the hard work for him by scouting out florists and types of flowers.

Encourage him to plan something fun, like a signature drink for the reception. Boys + booze = heaven. He will be thrilled to take on such a cool project.

Suggest he take on the research/booking of the transportation. This is a no brainer, boys like toys and anything mechanical, we're confident he won't disappoint you on this task (just remember to keep the reigns on the budget!)

And finally, just ask him what his vision of the wedding is, you might be surprised that he has some great ideas, and of course, we predict there will be some ideas that you will need to veto!

Q & A: How to Stay Organized When Planning a Party

Q: I'm planning a birthday party for my daughter and between my huge pile of decor pictures, food and theme ideas, the guest list, RSVP's and my daughter's list of must have party games, I am caught in a massive pile of disorganization. I feel like I'm loosing my mind. HELP how do event planners stay so organized?

A:  To successfully plan any event, being organized is our number one rule. We like to use notebooks and/or binders to separate all party categories to keep same subject information handy in one spot. If a notebook or binder is too bulky for you, try using an expandable file folder to separate all of your papers. Keep separate spots for inspiration, food, budget, invitations and RSVP's etc. Good luck planning your daughter's birthday party, and don't forget to show us how your new organizational system worked for you!

Tell us, how do you stay organized when planning your special event?

50th Anniversary Party Inspiration Board

Inspiration boards are one of the best party planning tools to invest in. Not only are they cheap and cheerful (you can make them on your own using clippings from old magazines, or digitally on your computer) however they can really help you share your vision with the people working closely with you on the event.

Inspiration boards can be used for any type of event and while we tend to showcase mostly wedding inspiration boards, we use them for baby showers, birthdays and even baptisms and anniversary parties.

Check out this 50th Anniversary party inspiration board created by Wedding Paper Diva's. We love the Ferrero Roche place settings, YUM!

{Photo Source: Wedding Paper Diva's Blog}

Christmas Party Flair

Who says candy is just for kids? At your next Christmas dinner party or potluck, surprise guests with a sweet table you would have died for, when you were in kindergarten!



{Photo Source: The Simply Creative Insanity Blog}



We love this great idea from the Simply Creative Insanity blog. Yes she created this spread for her daughter's kindergarten class but who says an adult party has to be all linens and lace? Chanel your inner child and get inspired by these delicious ideas.

What are some of your favourite holiday inspiration boards?

Q & A: Formal Table Setting HELP!

Q: I'm hosting a very small, formal dinner party next month and I want to make sure I do EVERYTHING right, including setting the table. The problem is, I have no idea how to start or what side to put the spoon on! Clearly I'm in need of a table setting crash course, can you help?

A: Don't sweat it, there are tons of resources out there to help you figure out which fork goes where and what to do with all of those glasses. We love this diagram from Replacements.com, it's clear and easy to follow and totally fool proof. Don't forget to print it and put it away for the next formal dinner party you host.

{Photo Source}

5 Tips for Planning Any Outdoor Event

While a backyard event is an excellent way to host a unique and intimate affair, keep in mind that the cost of an outdoor can escalate out of control quickly as can the weather! We've put together a list of 5 things to consider when hosting an outdoor/backyard wedding.

5. Keep your guests comfortable. Are you getting married in the early fall? Hand out pashima's as favors to all of your lady guests to keep them warm in the cool evening air or have cozy blankets on hand for those who might want to snuggle to keep warm. Summer months usually mean scorching hot weather, provide your guests with mini hand held fans to cool themselves down, or have your groomsmen hand out personalized bottles of chilled water to your guests as they're seated for the ceremony.

4. Always be prepared with a backup weather plan. Is it going to be record breaking hot outside? Is the weatherman calling for rain? We always like to suggest that your outdoor venue has a spot suitable to move the ceremony indoors if needed. Also, make sure the tent rental has sturdy sides that won't blow away in the wind, and consider ordering a tent floor to eliminate a muddy, grassy mess if it does indeed rain.

3. Choose your menu according to the time of the year. Summer weddings can benefit from having an Iced Tea bar to quench your guests thirst or some tasty frozen treats during cocktails. Comfort foods and drinks like hot chocolate and warm cookies can be the perfect companion to an outdoor wedding in cooler weather.

2. Permit, permit, permit! We can't stress this enough, if you're planning a wedding or any type of event in your home, check with your City or Town for any appropriate permits you may need to host your shindig. Things to look into include noise limits, trash removal, candles or open fires and alcohol licensing.

And the number 1 tip we'd like to share for planning an outdoor wedding?

1. Before you put down any deposits or send those invitations, one major thing to consider is parking for your guests. When looking into permits, also find out from your municipality where your guests can park. Do you have a property big enough to accommodate 100 cars? Is there ample parking on the surrounding streets in your neighbourhood? No? If there's a carpool lot nearby consider having your guests park there and have them shuttled to your residence from a neighbour with a mini van. If cost is not an issue, let them arrive in style in a luxury bus or SUV limo.

Fall 2010 Day of Coordination Promotion

Wedding Resolutions Every Bride Should Embrace

Warning: Wedding planning can cause even the most organized and level headed woman to loose her cool or become wedding obsessed throughout the process. We've created a few resolutions each bride should embrace to help them through the experience.

Resolution 1: I will not plan or book anything before I have made my guest list.
While this isn't the most fun task when it comes to wedding planning, it will help you determine what type of event will work best for you. It will also help you to set a budget and decide on a venue.

Resolution 2: I will only pick vendors that I truly believe in and want to work with.
So often we get caught up in budgets and wanting great deals, that we overlook the quality of the services being offered by some vendors. With some extra research, we're confident that you'll be able to find a great vendor (be it your baker, photographer, invitations) that you love and fits into your budget.

Resolution 3: I will not let the wedding planning consume my life.

It's so easy to let the wedding and the planning get so big that it consumes your life. If you're not actually planning anything you're dreaming about the planning or thinking of the wedding or sneaking in some lunch meetings to scope out vendors. Stop. Take a deep breath. And relax. If you find yourself over planning and every sentence begins with "My wedding  . . ." it's time to step away from your wedding planner/binder and go have some fun. Grab your girls or your fiance and treat yourself to a night out. Trust us, you'll feel refreshed and might even limit your chances of moving into Bridezilla territory (just kidding).

Resolution 4: I will ask for help.
We know, you've been planning your wedding since you were 6 years old, all you needed to finish the puzzle was the groom to be and finally, you found him. Now you can put all of your plans into action. The trick to planning your own wedding is to know when to ask for help. Just like we mentioned above, you don't want  to feel overwhelmed or exhausted on your wedding day. Think of a few tasks you can part with and ask friends and family to help you.

Resolution 5: I promise to enjoy myself
Whatever happens throughout the planning process, make a deal with yourself that no matter what unwarranted situations arise before the wedding, you'll put all of the stress aside and truly will enjoy your day.

*{Photo Source}

Planning a Kids Party on a Budget

We spend allot of time discussing weddings and everything wedding related here at Simply Sophisticated Events however, what you might not know about us, is that we also plan other events such as children's birthday parties.

While planning (and attending) a kids birthday party can be loads of fun with loot bags, themes, games and lot's of sugary treats, we know that cost always plays a big factor when parents are trying to think of how how to help their kids celebrate yet another milestone. Don't worry, we're here to help you avoid breaking the bank for the next birthday party.

Here are a few ways to help keep your next party a budget friendly one:

1. The best piece of advice we can give to parents on a budget is to host the party in your home. If you don't have the space, look for a low cost alternative such as a community centre or party room in a friends condo (usually the rental fee is pretty low and some even offer a money back guarantee if there is no damage to the facility).

2. Plan the party around non-meal times so you don't have to worry about feeding 20 kids an expensive lunch. Instead, host the party for a few hours after lunch (and between dinner) and offer healthy snacks. After all, kids will get the munchies so it's best to have some snacks on hand.

3. Save on renting expensive activities like bouncers and magicians. Instead, go back to basics and have the kids play games such as musical chairs, Simon says or even pin the tail on the donkey. If your children are a bit older, perhaps having an X-Box mini tournament would keep them busy and having fun, or even a soccer game in the back yard could be a fun way for kids to burn off some energy - and it's free.

4. As adults we tend to get caught up in all of the small details, one of them being decorations. Small children won't notice if you have perfectly coordinated centre pieces or tea light candles lighting the room. Kids are all about the fun factor so think themed paper plates, napkins and balloons. We love scoping out Party Packagers and our local dollar store for these cheap and cheerful decor options.

5. Part of the fun of having a birthday party is ripping into the loot bags afterwards. Set a budget for each bag and stick to smaller items such as candy, home made play dough or even homemade cookies or brownies. Don't forget to have your little one include a hand made thank you note to his little buddies too.

6. If you can't stomach the thought of paying for a cake made at your local bakery, but are cake decorating challenged, you can always make cupcakes instead and have the birthday boy or girl help you frost and decorate them with sprinkles. Having the honorary birthday child help with the decorations will also add a fun and personal touch to their party.

7. For home-based or out of home parties, try to keep the guest list to a minimum. While it might be tempted to invite their whole class to the party, we recommend that smaller is best, limiting the guest count to about 10 kids total. Not only does this save on money however, it will also be easier for the birthday child to interact with everyone equally. And it will lessen the amount of times you hit up the Advil bottle as well!

8. Lastly, just have fun and remember no matter what type of party you plan for your little one, they will have a great time with their friends no matter what.

DIY Favor Idea: Great for Mother's Day

Looking for a last minute idea to personalize your sweet table? Thanks to the folks at TomKat Studio, you can personalize any yummy favor with these DIY Printable Party Cards.

While these are perfect for Mother's Day, you can use this idea to personalize any cupcake, cake, brownie or other yummy treat for any event. We think they're perfect for baby showers, bridal showers, weddings and even theme parties (think Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day).

Click here to access TomKat Studios (also known as Project Nursery) DIY Printable Party Circles and Gift Tags.

Looking for a great DIY blog to browse through? We love TomKat Studios blog, it's filled with great ideas and unique projects. Check them out!

Planning an Eco-Friendly Affair

It seems that everyone is going green these days so we thought it would be a great idea to share some tips on how to make your next party an eco-friendly event. Keeping modest budgets in mind, here are our tips to creating a green event:

1. 
   Start with invitations. Instead of paper invitations, try free online services such as Evite.com to send out your party announcement. For those that really love the idea of a paper invitation, look for recycled paper options.
   Want to take your new tree-hugging lifestyle one step farther?  Check out what the folks over at InvitationTwist.ca have to offer. Their eco-friendly seeded invitations (that's right, you can plant them in your garden) are an innovative way to reduce, reuse and recycle and, they won't break the bank either.
   
   
2. Ask your guests to reduce their carbon footprint by carpooling to your shin dig. Better yet, if they live close by, ask them to bike or walk to your house.
   
   
3. Buy organic food if possible and remember to compost.
   
   
4. Rather than using paper plates and plastic cutlery, consider using your regular everyday plates and silverware. We know it's crazy to think that you'll have to wash all of those dishes or use more water with the dishwasher but, trust us, boycotting the paper and plastic will reduce unnecessary waste.
   
   
5. Set the mood of the party with different lighting options. Dim the lights and place candles all over the house to create a cool lounge type vibe. Can't live without your light switch turned on? Try switching your bulbs to LED lights and think about how much energy you'll be saving.

The sky is the limit when thinking of ways to be more eco-friendly. Your challenge this weekend, should you choose to accept it, is to think of more ways you can make your next event an eco-friendly affair.
Tell us, how are you saving the environment one party at a time?

How to Plan an Easter Egg Hunt for the Kiddies

Q: Easter is at my house this year and I don't know what to do with my nieces and nephews that are coming to visit. I want to plan a fun activity for them, any ideas on what I can do?

A: We love planning parties, especially when children are involved! One of the easiest activities to keep them busy with at Easter is with an Easter Egg Hunt. Are you planning another type of party (bridal or baby shower)? Turn this idea into a Scavenger Hunt instead, this will keep the kids busy while you're trying to tend to your guests and host the party.

Trust us, the parents will thank you for thinking of their kids needs as well. Below are some websites to help you get started planning your egg/scavenger hunt.

• eHow.com: How to Plan an Easter Egg Hunt for Your Kids
• Purple Tail Party Ideas: Innovative Ideas for Your Easter Egg Hunt
• Creative Kids at Home: Scavenger Hunt

*Photo Source: Country Living

Baby Showers “R” Us!

As spring quickly approaches, so does baby shower season! Every year, without fail, it seems that stork deliveries are their highest in April and May, so to get you started with planning your friends’ or family members’ shower, we have put together some helpful suggestions to get you started.

Photo Source: Hostess with the Mostess

• Regardless of what your Aunt Thelma thinks, many expectant mothers aren’t big fans of surprise showers. To help ease the momma-to-be’s anxiety, discuss the proposed date(s) ahead of time. Most couples like some buffer time between the shower and their due date to ensure that the must-have items not picked up from their registry are purchased in time for the baby’s arrival.

• Although the growing trend is to share their baby’s gender with friends and family ahead of time, quite a few parents still like to keep this news a secret. Make sure your baby shower theme doesn’t give away the surprise.

Photo Source: The Party Dress

• Don't be afraid to think outside the box when planning the shower. Tailor the event to the momma-to-be’s preferences. If the guest of honour isn't into the traditional day-time event, why not throw an evening inspired girl's night out (or in) instead! Don’t be afraid to also switch up the venue: bowling alleys, lounge spaces, inside mini-putt courses, restaurants – the list is endless.

• Set your budget once the guest list has been confirmed. It is so easy to get carried away when it comes to invitations, décor, favours, and food. Incorporating do it yourself (DIY) projects into the shower will add a creative and personal touch to the festivities.

Photo Source: Stem Parties

We are having so much fun planning some upcoming baby showers we are privileged to be a part of. Stay tuned for our Baby Shower Spotlight post in April for a glimpse of all the amazing pictures of our new mom’s special celebration.