Exotic & Unique Honeymoon: Maldives

Exotic & Unique Honeymoon: Maldives

Happy #TravelTuesday to all couples-in-love out there! I am having a blast quoting, planning and booking some great romance and honeymoon travel these days. Everywhere, from my nostalgic fave, Mexico and Greece, to some amazingly unique and exotic getaways in the South Pacific!

As always, my eyes are wide open for unique concepts and locations, and this week did not disappoint. I came across this amazing photo on a friend's Facebook wall and was blown away. So much so, that I immediately went into research mode to find out where it was so I can share it with all of you. Take a look at this AHH-Mazing dream honeymoon suite:

Although this is far from an ordinary honeymoon experience, you can absolutely make this dream come true for the right budget. You see, the Suite is actually a restaurant that can be converted into a honeymoon suite for that special newlywed couple. In fact, if money is no object, you can book this room for any private event your heart desires. Want a wedding proposal of a lifetime? Propose under the 'sharks'; Want a romantic private dinner for two?  You can't get more private than being 16 feet below sea level. If budget is in play, don't worry, you can still enjoy this beautiful underwater paradise in all it's glory.  ITHAA Underwater Restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rengali Island, is open daily for lunch & dinner, unless it's pre-reserved for a private event or honeymoon, of course.  

5 reasons that Maldives is the ultimate Honeymoon location: 

1. The gorgeous deep blue sea full of Coral Reefs in the Indian Ocean paired with white sandy beaches and glorious palm trees make this the perfect location to relax on the beach with a cocktail in hand or your own private over-the-water-bungalow.

2. Most of Maldives is water and when I say most, I mean 99%!

3. There are 1190 Islands that make up Maldives but only 105 are resort Islands and only 200 are inhabited.

4. One of the must-do activities in Maldives is definitely diving. With caves, reefs, caverns and wrecks to explore along with the abundant marine life, it's no wonder that it has some of the best diving in the world.

5. The Maldivian cuisine is a Sri Lankian-Indian Fusion with a sweet exotic twist. Make sure to have the traditional Kulhi Boakibaa when you're there: A spicy tuna-coconut fish cake satisfying for the foodie in all of us.

To plan & book your honeymoon, please contact me with your honeymoon details at: dnewell@tpi.ca or info@weddingsjubilee.com or call me at 416-500-6265

source: visitmaldives.com
source: travelingeast.com
source: conradhotels.com 

The truth about wedding planners

One of the first things I do when a Toronto Engaged Couple contacts me is ask them some screening questions. Questions like: What date are they hoping for?  how many guests they are hoping to invite? what city they want to have their wedding in?  and; what is their budget? Contrary to some beliefs, I don't ask these questions because I want to know how much to charge them, I ask because it let's me gage how realistic they are about their budget. In other words, if my couple wants a Saturday July Wedding for 150 guests in downtown Toronto for a budget of $15,000.00, I know that I need to put on my 'reality check' hat to educate them of some real costs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that a lower budget wedding in downtown Toronto is impossible, I'm saying that they first need to understand how much things cost. They need to know the compromises & cuts that must be made in order to make that happen. Compromises like: a smaller guest list, different reception time and type, choosing a less popular day of the week etc. 

Many couples tend to wrongly think that hiring a Wedding Planner will automatically mean negotiations with vendors to get them better deals. Sometimes we can get some added value with vendors and on occasion a discount or two, but nobody works for free. Think of it this way, if your boss came to you and said "I'm on a tight budget and can only pay you 1/2 of your pay for the same amount of work", how would you feel? I bet that it would not bode well and you'd think your boss didn't appreciate you; it would be unacceptable. You, rightfully, want to get paid for your hard work. Same goes with your Toronto Wedding vendors including your wedding planner.

Remember that your wedding planner will spend countless of hours researching all your needs, emailing, calling and visiting venues and vendor's to find ones that are perfect for your wedding; create and manage your budget, produce your timeline, fully develop the wedding theme or vision you have, handle confirmations, follow-up calls and visits with your vendors, create your itinerary for you and your vendors, attend, manage and even direct your rehearsal and wedding ceremony, if you need it and coordinate and manage your wedding day. By the way, that's just the condensed list.

A common misconception that couples (and sometimes their wedding party and family has) is that we wedding planners will pick up ALL the slack that you either didn't have time to do or forgot to do all free of charge because we want to make you happy and give you a stress-free day. Although it's true that we are there to make your day exceptional and as low-maintenance as can be, and it's also true we do whatever is in our power to solve and divert any last minute issues, we are not miracle workers.  We cannot make your delivered $50 centrepieces look identical to the photo you printed off Pinterest of the $300.00 one you asked your florist to scale down to save costs. We cannot simply add in unordered champagne for your guests on the day-of because your 'fave uncle' decided he wants to make a toast. If you didn't purchase the champagne, the venue likely would not have it kicking around. We cannot challenge signed contractual agreements or coerce your wedding vendors to do things you did not agree to prior to your wedding day.  For example: I can't guarantee that your photographer will be convinced to stay later at no cost because you were late to your ceremony and everything is running late. Likewise, I can't convince your venue to keep the bar open later just because your guests are having a great time. As a planner it is my job to help plan your wedding based on your budget and try to make it work with your vision in some way. My job is to help on the day to manage your event to have it all run smoothy and hopefully without incident.  It's my job to direct the wedding and troubleshoot any situations or problems that may arise. So, if your 'fave uncle' did want to make a toast, I could instead ask that a wine or sparkling cider be provided for your guests for an extra fee by your venue; although there are never guarantees, it would be a more likely scenario to expedite.

Although I can't guarantee or promise perfection, I can promise that my team and I will do a perfect job in putting our best foot forward every step of the way and providing prompt, quality service during your planning and wedding day; I can promise that I will always advise you of all your options; the upsides and downsides to all your wedding ideas;  I can also promise that I will be your eyes and ears on your wedding day to make it a beautiful experience for you and your loved ones.

Keep in mind that hiring a planner, even for just a series of consults will help. Regardless of your budget, it is important to meet with a professional coordinator to, at the very least, help get you organized and on the right track. 

Wedding Cake Alternative for a Greek Wedding!

I love to personalize wedding details and am known to bend the envelope here and there. Although I do love some traditional aspects to weddings as it ties in the old with the new, I do love when people get creative with Drinks, Food and Desserts. Particularly Cake.

The other day when I walked into a Greek Bakery to purchase a lent-friendly dessert for a surprise baby shower I was planning, I came across this stunning and unique cake alternative and thought it would be perfect for my clients' awesome 400+ 'Big Fat Greek Wedding'. She is not big on cake but loves greek desserts. I texted her the photos immediately ... fingers crossed that she'll 'Say Yes to the Baklava Tower'.

I had a quick one-on-one chat with Kosta from Select Bakery in Toronto about how he came up with it... his response was simple: he wanted to do something creative and different so he stands apart from everyone else.  What do you think of these Baklava Masterpieces? This Toronto Wedding Planner absolutely loves them!

Fun Wedding Proposals in Toronto

Thank you so much for interviewing us for the Examiner.com. Check out the article here Toronto Wedding Proposals.

Engagement season is upon us and we are excited!

This is our favourite time of the year because there is so much going on in the wedding world!  From great couples contacting us to plan their engagement parties and weddings to a special few that are looking for a Toronto Proposal or Engagement Planner. We love meeting new clients and what's more, LOVE planning surprises!

If you are looking to propose to that special somebody here are five tips to consider:

1. Keep it simple. The more complicated you make it the harder it will be to expedite it on your own.

2. Think of some of your favourite dates. What made them so special? From there, try and incorporate elements of that in your setting.

3. Take it up a notch ... or five. Push the envelope a bit. If you want to propose by putting the engagement ring under your partner's pillow, make sure you jazz it up a bit. Don't just place it under there and assume they'll 'get it'. Get some candles, rose petal; some nice aromatherapy air scents and set the mood.

4. Get rid of your shyness and communicate your feelings. There is no better time to do that then your wedding proposal. Don't just ask "Will you Marry me" and leave it at that. Let your partner know how you feel about them and why there is nobody else you could ever imagine being with.

5. Remember that you are setting the bar, so be yourself. Don't do something so incredibly romantic that your partner will spend the rest of their life yearning for and never getting. Set a standard that you can balance.

If you are looking for some help with planning your Wedding Proposal or you are ready to start planning your Wedding, please contact us to get started!

Real Wedding: Hollywood Elegance by Weddings Jublilee

... as seen on Wedding Bells

The key to a great wedding is to ensure you have a great Wedding Planner & Designer to help you bring your vision to life and to coordinate and manage it all once it's been planned! Jamie (my lovely Bride) knew that and did not hesitate to hire me for her wedding. In fact, Jamie is, herself, a WPIC Certified Wedding Planner, who has personally worked with me and unlike most, knew exactly just what she would get in a Planner. The details that we were able to put together and the amazing work and effort, sweat and hours she put in to countless DIY projects was amazing, including studding both her Steve Madden pumps with Swarovski Crystals and creating her own Wedding Cake that acted as a stand to house her cupcakes!

I was truly honoured that she entrusted me to help Plan her wedding along with some of the top Toronto Wedding Professionals around! You can read more about her wedding, as featured, in Wedding Bells Real Weddings.




Congratulations to all the newly engaged. Now, let's get planning!

Happy 2012 everyone and Congratulations to all the newly engaged couples!

This year we are doing it up! Our Toronto Wedding Planning and our Destination Wedding Planning Services have more added value and are even more customizable than ever before.

I was so lucky in 2011 for some incredible opportunities: I am privileged to be teaching Event and Venue Management at Trebas Institute; I was one of the Masters for Special Event Bootcamp; Went to Mexico to get certified on Mexico Destination Weddings and also became a proud Barcelo (resorts) Wedding Specialist, I got re-certified as a Sandals Specialist and made some absolutely great contacts with some amazing Barbados resorts and villas, Greece and France in order to provide you the best in International Destination Weddings. More to come this year as I and my associates gear up to achieve even higher levels of expertise.


In the meantime, don't miss our current promo: Book us by Feb. 14, 2012 and receive $150.00 of added services. We have add on's like: Honeymoon Planning, RSVP lists, E-Card Save the Dates, Engagement Planning, Bachelor or Bachelorette Party Planning etc. Don't miss this. Call or email us today!

We value all our clients and couples and our goal this year will be to shower you with top of the line service, planning advice, creative outputs and a consistent commitment to bringing your vision to life!

Royal Wedding Contest by Toronto Wedding Professionals

Royal Wedding Contest Info: The Royal Wedding Contest is now underway and One lucky winner will receive the following:

The Winner will receive:

Day-of Management Services** by me, WeDDings Jubilee Planning.

$250 off any DJ Package* with Scotia Entertainment services.

1 free engagement session with Eve and Jennifer, from Eve Traetto Photography & Jen Shoots Weddings, including a 1 hour session at the location/s of choice within the GTA, 5 8x10 prints and an online gallery. Also, 25% off wedding photography packages for 2011 and 15% off for 2012 weddings for everyone that enters the competition.

Rules:

What do you have to do? Easy. Answer my 7 trivia questions correctly, share the link to this post on Facebook or Twitter and you are automatically entered. You can either reply with your responses to this post (below), or you can email me the answers (info@weddingsjubilee.com); please use the subject line Royal Wedding Contest and include your name. Good luck to you all. I will select the winner on April 30th, 2011 & will announce the winner on May 1, 2011.

Question 1: What is a Milliner?

Question 2: How many wedding cakes did Princess Diana and Prince Charles actually have for their wedding?

Question 3: How long was Princess Diana's Veil at her Wedding to Prince Charles?

Question 4: Where will the Royal Wedding Reception take place?

Question 5: What have Kate and Prince William asked for in lieu of wedding gifts?

Question 6: In what year did Alcohol Consumption decline, thanks to Tea?

Question 7: What time is The Royal Wedding Ceremony taking place tomorrow (London, UK Time)?

I will also be offering all entrants of the contest as well as all my other readers a $200* special discount off any one of our planning packages in honor of Wills & Kate!

*Must be booked by May 31, 2011. Ceremony only & Reception only are not included in our packages.
**Transportation and Accommodations are not included. The wedding, event, or special occasion must be before April 2012. Expires May 31, 2011.

Where in Toronto Will you view the Royal Wedding? - 4 more days!

4 more days to go until Prince William weds his Princess!
There is so much hype, borderline overkill, about the Royal Wedding; however, how can you help not get into the vibe? The excitement is contagious and I can't help but get into nervous Planner mode for this occasion.

I know what you're thinking: 'why get into planner mode when I'm not Kate and Will's planner?'; well, because my obligation is to my current & soon-to-be WeDDings Jubilee Planning Couples. If you are like many of others in the GTA, you are either getting up early, tea in hand to watch at home alone, hosting a breakfast tea party or trying to find a great place to be a 'virtual' guest at Westminster Abbey.


Following is a list of the GTA's top spots to view this epic event. Hope to spot you around town with your fancy hat on:)

On the Park Events & Conference Centre, 1095 Leslie St. (416-510-2002)

Friday, April 29. Doors open at 5:30 a.m., live telecast on 17-foot HD screen at 6. Admission: $25 (plus tax). Includes buffet breakfast, rides in open-style horse and carriage, door prizes. Contact rebeccah@eventsonthepark.ca.

Fox & the Fiddle, 27 Wellesley E. (416-944-9369)

Friday, April 29, 5:30 a.m. English breakfast + live telecast of the Royal Wedding

Duke of Kent, 2315 Yonge St. (416-485-9507)

Friday, April 29, 5 a.m., traditional English breakfast for $8.99 + live telecast

Le Méridien King Edward Hotel, 37 King St. East (416-863-9700)

Friday, April 29, 5-9 a.m. full English breakfast at the Sovereign Ballroom

$65/person + live telecast of the Royal Wedding

Windsor Arms Hotel, 18 St. Thomas St. (416-971-9666)

April 28-30: “The Royal Tea and Gift” – traditional afternoon tea, $75

April 29: 4-11 a.m. – “The Royal Experience” - Traditional English breakfast + live telecast of the Royal Wedding, $125

April 29: 2-5 p.m. – “A Royal Buffet Tea” in the Courtyard Café, $60

Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front St. W.

Friday, April 29 at the Library Bar – English afternoon tea served in fine china with sandwiches, pastries and dessert + live telecast, $35. Reservations: 416-860-5004.

Friday, April 29, 5 a.m. at Epic Lounge – Traditional English breakfast, $21. Smart casual dress code. Reservations: 416-860-6949.

Swansea Town Hall, Rousseau Room, 95 Lavinia Ave. (416-392-1954

April 29, 5:45 a.m. – Tea service + live telecast. Hosted by Parkdale-High Park councillor Sarah Doucette. Red white and blue dress code.

Dundurn Castle, 610 York Blvd, Hamilton (905-546-2872)

April 29: 4-6 p.m. – Royal Tea at the ancestral home of the Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

T-buds Uptown Tea Lounge, 3343 Yonge St. (647-352-3622)

Friday, April 29, 1-3 p.m. – Full service afternoon tea and fine foods, complete with a custom-made Royal Wedding tea blend and a life-size cardboard cut-out of Will and Kate for picture-taking purpose (some proceeds go to Children’s Wish Foundation).

Acheson’s Gifts and Decorative Accents, 78 First St., Orangeville (519-940-4719)

April 29, 5 a.m. — Complimentary tea, scones and sandwiches. Entry charge is one non-perishable food item to be donated to local food band.

Toronto Antiques on King, 284 King St. W. (416-260-9057)

Friday, April 29, 1-5 p.m. — Royal wedding party with high tea. Half of $100 sale price from faux Kate Middleton engagement rings going to Make A Wish Foundation.

Question 4: Where will the Royal Wedding Reception take place?

Answer: Please post answer below or email here (please enter Royal Wedding Contest and your name on the subject line).

Royal Wedding Contest Info and Rules: At the end of this week, on the wedding day (April 29, 2011), I will offer ALL of my 'Royal' couples, a $200.00 special discount off any one of our planning packages*. Of course that's not all. We will also be giving one lucky reader the chance to win Planning, DJ services and Photography (see details below):

Prizes:

Day-of Management Services** by me, WeDDings Jubilee Planning.

$250 off any DJ Package* with Scotia Entertainment services.

1 free engagement session with Eve and Jennifer, from Eve Traetto Photography & Jen Shoots Weddings, including a 1 hour session at the location/s of choice within the GTA, 5 8x10 prints and an online gallery. Also, 25% off wedding photography packages for 2011 and 15% off for 2012 weddings for everyone that enters the competition.

Rules:

What do you have to do? Easy. Answer my 7 trivia questions correctly, share this post on Facebook or Twitter and you are automatically entered. You can either reply with your response to this post or email me the answers; please use the subject line Royal Wedding Contest and include your name. Good luck to you all.


*Must be booked by May 31, 2011. Ceremony only & Reception only are not included in our packages.
**Transportation and Accommodations are not included. The wedding, event, or special occasion must be before April 2012. Expires May 31, 2011.

The Kleinfeld Experience by the Ring Bearer: Back by popular demand!

 Thanks to our very own, Canadian born and bred, the Ring Bearer along with Kleinfeld Manhattan and Vision 2000, this ever-so-exciting contest is back and One lucky bride-to-be will get a chance to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Here are the details.

Your love story could win you:
	a $5000 gift certificate to Kleinfeld*
	a private store opening in Manhattan, New York **
	personal styling services provided by Randy Fenoli and a Kleinfeld Bridal Consultant
	free airfare and five-star accomodations

Vendor Spotlight: Pop and Lolly's

I was recently introduced to an awesome new place located in Niagara Falls called Pop and Lolly's. Aside from their unbelievably delicious Candy Apples (which I highly recommend as a favour for your guests), their melt in your mouth fudge and their scrumptious chocolate covered strawberries; they have something completely unique that I have never seen before: Letter Rock Candy.

They not only make this tangy and 'yum-ilicious' candy right there as you watch; they also have a plethora of flavours & can mix and match any colour and flavour to suit your wedding day theme & your taste buds. Oh and here's the best part: You can personalize them with up to 14 letters! You can monogram, use a heart, date or write a personal message for your guests; all at a very affordable prices. The staff is ready to go out of their way to please you and provide exactly what you need, they could likely match the flavour of your signature drink to the candy - anything is possible. I highly recommend Pop and Lolly's for taste, service and out-of-the box ideas for you special day. So, next time you're in the 'falls', make sure you stop by and check them out.

Tip to consider: They make their Letter Rock Candy at various times throughout the day; every batch they finish they give out free tastings. It's a great way to try something new without breaking the bank and trust me, it's totally worth the wait.

All Photos are the property of Denise Georgiou-Newell

WeDDings Jubilee proudy presents....

When I was first approached by New Beginnings to Plan the 4th Annual Wedding Bliss for New Beginnings, it was a no brainer!  A Wedding Dress Sale that fulfills dreams! A bride finds her dream dress while helping a mother achieve her dream of being able to single-handedly support her children. Fantastic!

New Beginnings is a charity that helps women who have fallen onto a state of poverty. They not only train these amazing women with new and improved skills, but they help them support their children while assisting in their transition to a state of self-sufficiency. This charity is in one word: AMAZING!

New Beginnings represents to me 'what could've been' and 'what could be'; let me explain. Growing up, my single mother had to work three jobs to make ends meet. Although we were never in a state of poverty, it was only because she worked her butt off so that we did not lack a single thing. The result, she missed out on a lot of our extra-curricular activities.  If New Beginnings existed then, that may have been different. Today, having my own family, my own business and like almost everyone else more debt than is comfortable, I see how easy it to get to a state where things are out of your control.  It doesn't take much people. This is why my involvement in this fundraiser is so deep for me and I've been determined from day one to make it exceptional and try my best to raise a whopping 30K. That's my ultimate goal!

Along with me, there are some amazing sponsors and vendors that are making this event incredible!