2014 Wedding Trends in Canada and beyond

I am so excited for the chance to have been interviewed about 2014 Wedding Trends in the Brantford Expositor! Check out my top tips:)

The Brantford ExpositorCopyright © 2014, The Brantford Expositor

The Brantford ExpositorCopyright © 2014, The Brantford Expositor. Unauthorized reproduction or Web posting prohibited.

1 / 21 - Thursday, January 23, 2014 Wedding trends for 2014 Edition: Final Source: JOANNE RICHARD, SPECIAL TO QMI AGENCY Section: Lifestyle Page: C3

   For whom the bells toll, 2014 is going to be a year that's up close and personal.
    Brides will be blushing, their moms crying and guests swooning when it comes to the wonderful world of weddings. Think small and quaint, warm beaches, pastels, and sleek silhouettes.
    "It's virtually impossible to create a truly memorable and unique event with a large guest count," says Karina Lemke, a Toronto-based wedding and event planner, of karinalemke.com.
    "The logistics of feeding and organizing guests takes its toll on the little details and atmosphere."
    One big trend is small scale soirees -- that means 10 to 100 people in a restaurant or unique venue.
    "Anything but a banquet hall!" says Lemke.
    Pledge your love and sip cocktails in a fancy barn, charming countryside inn, upscale bistro, chic gallery or a rooftop terrace.
    Or take it away -far away. Destination weddings will continue to boom in popularity.
    "Couples realize that spending tens of thousands of dollars is perhaps better applied to other things," says Lemke.
    "Going somewhere truly beautiful and unique with a few close family and friends is not only budget-wise, but romantic too."
    Cold months are heating up: Expect more off-season nuptials as couples forego flower-filled wedding photos and pocket 20% to 40% in savings, says Lemke. Besides hosting winter-month weddings, non-Saturday night weddings and afternoon brunches are expected to be popular. The savings are worth celebrating.
    Wedding design will focus on opposites and mismatched elements, says DeeDee Newell, certified wedding planner at weddingsjubilee.com."Rustic will meet elegant, and vintage marries modern/futuristic and so on."
    Colour the event in beautiful pastels, vibrant floral shades and metallics, says Newell. "Wedding dresses dazzle with dramatic backs, beautiful sleeve designs and more sleek silhouettes."
    Textures are rising to the occasion. "From wedding cakes to wedding stationary, smooth finishes will take a back seat this year," she says.
    Technology is a virtual boon. "Everything from Skype-ing in family and friends to join the ceremony, live video feeds for destination weddings, and live wedding Twitter parties, scrolling on a screen during the reception is mainstream in 2014," adds Newell.
    - - -
    Personal touches make the event one you'll remember
    Ditch the candy buffet, photo booth or dancing Vegas show-girls. "It's nothing your friends haven't seen before," says wedding planner Karina Lemke.
    So if they've seen one, make sure they haven't seen them all! up the unforgetability quotient by involving guests in the sentiment and events of the day:
    * Divorce conventional wedding hoopla! Put on a great show by infusing your own spirit into the festivities. Tell your story of your life as a couple.
    "The wedding can be an extension of who you are. Are you avid sailors? Then host a smaller wedding on a boat or by the water. have guests sign an oar rather than a guest book, use classic sailor's monkey knots as table markers."
    * If you love food, host in a favourite restaurant and offer a chef's tasting menu.
    "Make the meal the star of the night," suggests Lemke. "If you met in a neighbourhood coffee shop, have your ceremony and possibly your reception in that same shop."
    * Put some feeling into it!
    "have friends with beautiful voices serenade you. The bride could sing a song to her parents. Serve your favorite mac 'n' cheese or your grandma's chicken soup and homemade apple pie at your wedding. Skip the conventional banquet hall dish. These are the things that become stand-outs for guests."
    * Speak up but... We all hate long, boring speeches, however, a wedding that doesn't feature the host thanking their guests for attending, or the family expressing affection for their newly-married offspring, feels void of emotion, says Lemke.
    "Cut out wedding party speeches and the best man/ maid of honour speeches if you must, but the bride and groom, as well as a representative of each family, really should speak and with warmth, love and gratitude."
    * Bring on the kissing games. Maligned but mandatory.
    "We all hate them but a wedding where the bride and groom don't lock lips feels like a work party," adds Lemke. "There are ways to make it fun but if you opt to not have them, please remember to stand up at least once or twice and put on a good show for your guests."
ID: 223413153

Copyright © 2014, The Brantford Expositor. Unauthorized reproduction or Web posting prohibited.

Donut: the new 'Cupcake' for 2013 Wedding Trends!

So, for the last year, there has been a whispered buzz that the 'cupcake revolution' is slowly simmering down ... I've also been noticing a whole lot more of another delicious bakery treat inch it's way up into the event world.

DONUTS!!!

From Nigella Lawson's Christmas Party to a Double-Baptism I'm planning this upcoming July 28th, as well as a new show on the Food Network: 'Donut Showdown', donuts seem to be taking a front seat while the 'cute' cupcake is sadly moving to the back...

I'm not talking about your typical 'old fashioned glazed' donut either. No. I'm talking about flavours like Maple Bacon, Cannoli, Tiramisu, Peanut Butter and Chocolate, Salted Caramel and savouries like Grilled Cheese from J'adore Cakes Co.  There was even a Donut Burger at the CNE for the last couple of summers (photographed below)

So many couples want to be different and stray from the norm; and this is one crazy 'craze' the delivers - and one that will surely become trendy and used more than just for a 'police-themed' wedding or event! This Toronto Wedding Planner, for one, loves it!

Would you have donuts at your Toronto Wedding or Event? What flavour would you get?

Amanda's Grilled Cheese by J'adore Cake Co. 

Maple Bacon by J'adore Cake Co. 

Variety of Donuts by J'adore Cake Co. All Photos (above) Courtesy of J'dore Cakes Co. 

Epic Burgers and Waffles at the CNE
Photo Courtesy of Epic Burgers and Waffles


TUBE ALERT: 

Tune in to watch J'adore Cakes Co. on Food Network's Donut Showdown on May 14, 2013 at 10pm on the Food Network! 

Vendor Spotlight: The Groomshow!

Hello! Hello! I'm taking a different stroke to today's vendor spotlight to support a dear friend and to promote what is sure to be an AWESOME show: The Groomshow!



You've all heard and probably been to at least one bridal show, but I can guarantee that you have not been to anything like this! Ophellia Mcknight, who has literally poured her blood (believe me, I've seen her go and it's comparable to the road runner;) into producing this show; has created the first ever wedding show for all the wonderful grooms-to-be. Come get your Groom on, at the Groom Show on April 17, 2011 at the Erin Mills Convention Center.


GET YOUR GROOM ON AT FIRST-EVER WEDDING SHOW JUST FOR MEN

They’ll be standing at the altar too and yet so often the Grooms seem to fade from the wedding planning equation. Everywhere you turn from magazines and web sites to TV and tradeshows, wedding planning seems to be directed at and speak to the Bride. Over the last few years however men have begun to climb out from the backseat and take an active role in the planning of their wedding. But where do they go for inspiration and ideas when their interests are seemingly under-represented in the wedding industry?

Enter The Groom Show – the very first wedding show in all of North America that’s just for the Groom. Held on Sunday, March 6, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 5 PM at the Erin Mills Convention Centre, The Groom Show understands that wedding planning is for Grooms too and provides an entertaining program that’s free from lace, roses and sparkle. Tickets for the show can be purchased online at www.groomshow.ca for $15 per couple or for $10 per person at the door.

From unique ideas and products to exceptional wedding professionals and entertainment, Groom Show is everything a guy could want for his wedding. In addition to “man-to-man” seminars held in “The Man Cave”, one-on-one chats with outstanding professionals in the industry and free espresso all day, The Groom Show also features a Gaming Room where Grooms can out-race or out-golf their Best Man, beer and liquor tastings, incredible ‘guy-friendly’ Door Prizes and a “Fashion for the Modern Man” runway of the best formal, destination and honeymoon fashions for men.

With every up and coming wedding, another Groom follows their Bride-to-be from boutique to boutique, attend Bridal shows, flip through Bridal magazines and watch wedding programs on TV. For the first time in North America Groom’s can now have a place to call their own within the wedding industry! Join your fellow Groomsmen at The Groom Show March 6th at the Erin Mills Convention Centre and Get Your Groom On!

For more info. or if you are vendor looking to be part of the show, please contact Ophellia!

Ophellia McKnight, Producer, The Groom Show
416-938-5465
ophellia@groomshow.ca

Vendor Spotlight: L-EAT!

Who doesn't love food? Food can either make or break your wedding day. It is certainly one of the most important elements at a wedding. If it tastes bad or is served cold (unless it's supposed to be), your guests will be completely unforgiving about it; If it's great, it will have your guests spinning with delight all night long and talking about the 'pleasing-to-the-senses' feast for a very long time.

Now, combine creative chef's, top quality ingredients, amazing customer service and a full service catering company that works with the couple, and you have the recipe for L-EAT!
We contacted our friend Deirdre Anderson at L-EAT, who was thrilled to chat with us and provided amazing insight for you, our awesome readers!

Enjoy,
your trusty wedding planner:)

How did you come up with the name L-EAT?

The name L-Eat is a play-on-words – Tony was going to name the company Elite Catering – but decided to get creative and incorporate the word, eat.

How did the company get started?

Tony Loschiavo founded l-Eat in 1983; his friends in the hair dressing industry suggested that he start a catering business selling sandwiches to hairdressers who were too busy to leave their chairs to go for lunch. From there, the clients started requesting the info of the catering company. From there, our full service catering was born. It’s safe to note that our growth has generally been from word of mouth.

What sets you apart from other caterers?

- We are focused on the balance of all the important aspects of our business.

- Food that is focused on quality and that is at once innovative and consistent but that still offers true value to our clients.

- The ability to customize menus for any occasion and any client.

- Qualified catering sales managers who work closely and efficiently with clients in order to deliver seamless catered events.

- Attention to detail and aesthetics.

- Excellence in customer service and retention – we try to make every client a lifetime client, with great success.

What 5 tips can you give a couple to help them make the best choice in caterers?

- Hire someone who not only has great food but that offers exceptional customer service.

- Hire someone that is truly excited about making their day unique and special

- That shares similar vision and personality – it is a process and couples should really like the person they are working with

- Make sure your caterer listens and interprets the vision correctly.

- Love the food!

What are important questions that a couple should ask a caterer before booking?

- Who will run the catering portion of the function the day of?

- Will the clients contact be on site the day of? (at L-eat yes)

- What the client can expect from the caterer – what is the process?

- In the event of emergencies during the planning stages and the day of – what is the best way to get a hold of the caterer?

Are there any misconceptions that a couple have that you'd like to clear up?

Yes – that caterers just offer typical foods and aren't creative. The ability to be a good caterer is to constantly evolve and customize - often the best ideas come from the couple who are living and breathing their wedding. The caterer should be able to extract those ideas and turn them into reality while giving them good, honest advice.

Do you feel it is important for a couple to hire a Wedding Coordinator? Why?

Yes – we always recommend a wedding coordinator – at the very least for the day of the event. It allows the caterer to focus on the food and service. A caterer and wedding coordinator work together to ensure that everything runs seamlessly and on time – while allowing the bride and groom and wedding party to enjoy their day!

Are there any special promotions you have going on right now?

We try to keep our pricing consistent throughout the year – we never compromise on quality

in order to meet a budget however we are capable of working with couples at various price points by altering menu items and variety.

L-EAT CATERING
3829 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Ontario
M3H 3N1
P: 416.631.9226
F: 416-633-9247
www.leatcatering.com

P.S. For those dying to try their food and just can't wait, they provide all the catering at the Paese Ristorante. Believe me, the food is to scrumptious!

Paese Ristorante
3827 bathurst street
416.631.6585
or
333 King Street West,
416.599.6585

Vendor Spotlight: Hello DJ

Anything I say about Lisa Ng of Hello DJ just wouldn't be enough. She is not only an fabulous DJ and a versatile entrepreneur, but she is also one Hip, Urban Girl!

Her knack of knowing her client's music tastes and their guests 'flavour' is incredible and she makes sure the entire room is up, dancing and enjoying the night. It's her mission to provide an unforgettable and fun-filled night and she delivers 100% of the time!

The pleasure was mine when she made time in her very busy schedule to be interviewed for our blog!

 
Q. When/How did you decide that DJ'ing was your 'calling'?

A. I really loved performing and actually set out for a career in acting and musical theatre. I think DJ-ing is the perfect combination of my love for performance and music. I also have a passion for planning events and was always the unofficial social director in whatever group I was in. My personality is pretty outgoing and I'm a people person. So working in the events industry is perfect for me.

Q. How did you come up with the name 'Hello DJ'?

A. My husband came up with it! He said it was like Hello Kitty :) I thought it was really cute and fit the fun, pink brand that is hello DJ! I'm also a big Hello Kitty fan. I have a toaster that burns her face into my toast.

Q. How did Hello DJ get started?

A. I started the company in the last year of my degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto. It was something I started to help pay for school - I always kept tabs on music and grew up listening to a lot of different genres. I'm crazy for 90s hip-hop, but am also a serious Edge 102.1 listener and love my share of rock/alt and indie. I'll also sing along to Top 40 in my car, so my tastes are pretty open and I just brought my female approach to DJ-ing. I also worked at a bunch of different record stores while growing up, so I was exposed to stuff I normally wouldn't have picked up. My niche as a female DJ grew very quickly and became a full-time company by the time I graduated. It's now been almost six years!

Q. What sets you apart from other DJ's?

A. I love details. I would rather have more information than less. I try to get to know my clients as best as possible and ask lots of questions about their guests, that way I can build a good playlist in my head for their reception. We're also a small, boutique DJ company. Means when you meet with me, I'll be your DJ. We never farm work out and we're not a big box DJ company.

Q. What 5 tips can you give a couple looking for a DJ?

A. 1) Don't book the cheapest DJ out there, sometimes you really do get what you pay for
2) Hire a professional! Avoid using a friend or amateur - they usually panic, realize how much work it is and drop out at the last-minute
3) Make sure you click with the personality of the DJ you are booking. If it's not a fit, that's OK - there's a DJ out there for you.
4) Book at least one year or more in advance to ensure you get the DJ you want
5) Make sure your DJ carries back-up equipment in case anything gets damaged or malfunctions on the day of your event.

Q. What are the most important questions a couple should ask a DJ before booking with them?

A. When sending an inquiry, do try to give as much information as possible so the DJ can properly put together a quote. We like to know the date, venue, guest count and basic elements of your wedding and ideas you have for music style. Once we can determine our availability and the price is within budget for the client, we can move forward to a consultation. Do also ask that the DJ you meet with is going to be the DJ at your event. If not, ask if you will be able to meet with your DJ before the wedding.

Q. Are there any misconceptions that couples have that you'd like to clear up?

A. We're not all cheesy! Cheesy is cool, but we understand that it's not for everyone. Which is why aim to be a hip, fun and young DJ company.

Q. Do you feel it is important for a couple to hire a Wedding Planner? Why?

A. Yes it is important to hire a wedding planner, because they are your insurance policy and advocate. They make sure that your interests come first and not the worries of the venue, florist or anyone else. It's nice to let go and not worry about things being bumpy because you have a wedding planner to do that for you and to keep your event on track.

Q. Any upcoming news or promos you'd like mention?

A. Please visit our blog to read all about the life of a hip + urban girl DJ in the city @ www.hipurbangirl.com

Lisa Ng

hello DJ!

Blog - The Hip & Urban Girl's Guide:

http://www.hipurbangirl.com

Follow on Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/hipurbangirl

(416) 891-8440

http://www.helloDJ.ca

***Hello DJ has moved to St. Lawrence Market!***

39 Jarvis Street, Unit #612

Toronto, Ontario

M5E 1Z5