Create Weddings and Events blog

Fairmont Waterfront Styled Shoot

8/15/2018

For this shoot, we dodged rain drops but managed to make it through without getting soaked and of course, as is Mother Nature, the sun came out in brilliant fashion as we were packing up!

The Fairmont Waterfront provides a stunning pool side patio and garden which we set up for a city elopement. There can be a lot of misconceptions about elopements... that perhaps the couple is settling and not getting what they really want or you can't wear a wedding dress or have any decor. Not true! In this case, we chose a gorgeous setting that didn't need a lot of extra decor but we wanted to still make it look like a wedding, specifically by creating an altar and an aisle for the ceremony. We also kept things classic by doing an all-white look and against the green of the garden it really popped. Overall, it was a small amount of decor but it was a big impact.

If you are eloping and it's only going to be the two of you or a very small guest list then perhaps a wedding cake isn't the way to go but having a toast and a little bite to eat to celebrate is still great and I love the idea of having macarons as a sweet treat. Super simple in the sense that there are no plates or cutlery needed.

We also chose real touch flowers as opposed to fresh flowers, working with the idea that the decor should be as easy as possible and that these arrangements and the bouquet could be done well in advance.

If you are contemplating an elopement you have so many options! Choose a wedding that makes you and your partner happy be it big or small.

Any questions about the shoot or the vendors? Email me or comment below?

Happy planning,
Sara

Vendors:
Photography- Astral Images
Venue- Fairmont Waterfront
Decor- Jack & Jill Weddings
Florals- Decor Haus
Stationery- Cornwall Stationery
Makeup- Grist Artistry
Hair- Simply Braided
Dress- Bisou Bridal
Tux- Debonair Formal Wear
Macarons- Soirette
Modelling Agency- Numa Models
Bride- Polina Stringini
Groom- Leonard Lim

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Redwoods Golf Course Styled Shoot

6/1/2018

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This shoot was planned along side Joanna Moss, who also did the photography, and I love how it all turned out. The location was Redwoods Golf Course in Langley on their recently (at the time) renovated ceremony space. Joanna had shot a few weddings here already and was loving the outcome of the reno and wanted to show it off. It was early September 2017 and as you can see from the photo above we shot in the early evening and got some amazing sunset photos.

One of the other great things about this shoot was that we used one of Joanna's real couples from earlier in the summer who got married at Redwoods as well. Not only did they look look like models (even though they aren't) but it was fun to watch them get all made up again with hair and makeup and get back into some fancy clothes. They were having a great time getting some new photos in their wedding venue and it was probably way less stressful of a day since they weren't dealing with the emotions of the actual wedding. Also, a lot of British Columbia had been battling terrible forest fires all summer and the lower mainland was getting a lot of the smoke. Many days were incredibly smoky and hazy blocking out the sunsets so sunset photos weren't happening for a lot of couples (not that it's even remotely on the same level as the people leaving everything behind due to fires) but on this night we were able to recreate some shots for this couple.

We also worked with amazing vendors and were able to bring our ideas to mind. Joanna and I had worked a wedding together in the third week of July and then I was leaving town for two weeks to head to my friend's wedding but between then we met up at a coffee shop and chatted about our vision. The theme we were working with was 'Women in History' and we chose Princess Diana. Not only was she an amazing person with her work in regards to charities but her wedding was a major story and even though she got married before I was even born it was something that I knew a lot about... a lot of people remember the train on her dress or her sapphire engagement ring (that now belongs to Kate!). The ring was a major part of our theme and we chose the navy color scheme to go along with that. The wing back chairs from Bespoke Decor served as our "thrones" and the cake from Joconde Patisserie also brought in the sapphire feeling and of course the pearls that was another piece of jewelry that is something you think about in regards to Diana.

If you know me, then you know I love details (I may have mentioned it once or twice!). They might even be small details that most people don't consciously notice but I really do love that part of weddings. In this shoot, Making Memories Stationery created the suite for us and when we got them I noticed that one of the place cards was Lady Spencer as a nod to Diana. Love it! I also knew that we needed to have some crown details. I searched for weeks and couldn't find anything local so then I turned to handy dandy Amazon and found some fantastic glass crown tea light holders but if you look through the photos you will notice we used them on each place setting on top of the napkins as well as used them as place card holders. I will be eternally grateful for rush shipping so we could receive these in time to use.

Chair Decor provided the linens in the silver sequin and a textured navy that were so great for the look. Chair Decor came in to save the day with most of the decor pieces such as the glass beaded charger plates, cake stand, glassware, draping and more and the many lanterns came from Valley Weddings.

Patricia, owner of Vivio Flowers, came in with so many amazing flowers and put together gorgeous arrangements for us. The bouquet for our bride was absolutely stunning! Flowers, flowers everywhere!

The dresses and accessories were from Isabelle's Bridal including the ever important tiara. Hair and makeup was done by Alejandra Valdivia from Vancouver Makeup.

In December, the shoot was featured on the Wedluxe blog and we were able to share it with everyone. I hope you have all enjoyed the behind the scenes take and the photos.

If you have any questions about the shoot or the vendors please email or leave a comment!

Happy planning,
Sara

Vendors:
Photographer- Joanna Moss Photography
Venue- Redwoods Golf Course
Flowers- Vivio Flowers
Cake- Joconde Patisserie
Dresses & accessories- Isabelle's Bridal www.isabellesbridal.com/
Hair & makeup- Vancouver Makeup
Stationery- Making Memories with Stationery
Decor- Upright Decor
Linens- Chair Decor
Lanterns- Valley Weddings
Chairs- Bespoke Decor
Online Feature- Wedluxe

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Christina & David's Vancouver wedding

5/16/2018

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Christina and David got married in November 2017 in downtown Vancouver. Christina first contacted me in October to hire me for my partial planning package. She had the majority of the vendors hired and planned out but she wanted some help with flowers and decor as well as day of coordination for their travel themed wedding. David lives in Australia and Christina was moving there just a few days after the wedding so she had enough on her plate already and giving up some of the smaller tasks to me in the last few weeks was a no-brainer.

The ceremony and reception were both held at the Shangri-La Vancouver downtown and I was excited to be able to work here. The guest list for this wedding was about 70 people and it was a perfect room for it. The original plan was to have the ceremony outside on the deck but Vancouver weather at the end of November is not exactly calm so the ceremony was moved into the library and it was really pretty. Even the Christmas trees that were already up matched the colors of the wedding and fit in perfectly!

The morning of the wedding, Mink Makeup and Hair came to the hotel, where Christina had also stayed the night before, and started getting her and the bridesmaids ready. When I came up to do a check in, the photographers were already there and everyone was having a great time.

The guys were getting ready as well and then Christina and David did a first look in the hotel lobby before the wedding party and some family members headed outside for some photos. I won't lie... it was pretty chilly that day but the rain held off for this part which was terrific and let them get some photos in the city.

Christina is from the US and David is from Australia so the majority of their guests were from out of town which really tied into the theme so well! The table numbers were all airports and the escort cards were boarding passes that Christina made and cut out with the help of her maid of honor. One of my favourite things about these cards were that they were also meal indicators for the plated meal that the servers could use to confirm who got which meal at the table. Rather than a traditional guest book, they used some photos of themselves and created post cards for guests to write on... or even keep and send them messages later on.

The florals and decor were both provided by Proline and they had some great things that fit with the gold, cream and green colour scheme. The gold sunburst charger plates were amazing but perhaps my favourite decor element were the frosted pillars that were lit from underneath with spot lights. We used them at the head of the aisle with flower arrangements on them during the ceremony and then moved them to the reception area to flank the sweetheart table. I loved the soft glow of lighting they gave.

DJ Moto Pri from Girl on Wax came in for the reception and MC'd as well but when the dancing started she had the floor packed. This was a fun crowd and the friends that flew halfway around the world were up for a party for sure! After dinner, there was a photobooth provided by Chic and Unique and then Thierry Chocolates delivered some of the most decadent desserts you could ever imagine. My mouth is still watering thinking about them six months later!

Overall, this was a really fun winter wedding with amazing food (Shangri-La can really knock it out of the park!) and fantastic guests.

As always, if you have any questions about this wedding or any of the vendors, or just questions in general about wedding planning, please comment or send me an email.

Happy planning,
Sara

Vendors:
Venue- Shangri-La Vancouver
Photographer- Karizma Photography
Videographer- Infinitum Weddings
DJ- DJ Moto Pri for Girl on Wax
Floral & Decor- Proline
Makeup & Hair- Mink Makeup and Hair
Desserts- Thierry Chocolates
Photobooth- Chic & Unique

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Tania & Derrick's Burnaby Mountain wedding

5/1/2018

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T & D post ceremony with their officiant Lani from Young, Hip and Married and their dog, Duke!

I met Tania and Derrick at a wedding show in September 2016 and they hired me for day of coordination for their October 2017 wedding. Some couples just know well in advance that they want help in the weeks leading up to the wedding and on the day and Tania and Derrick were one of those couples. Tania was in the processing of moving across the country to be with Derrick while finishing university so she definitely had a lot of things going on in the months leading up their wedding!

The ceremony and reception were both held at the Diamond Alumni Centre up at Simon Fraser University and although I went to SFU for my degree, I had never been into this venue. It seems like a little hidden gem since you can't really see it from the road and once you are in there you have the most incredible view of the forest surroundings and to the Port Moody Inlet.

Tania and Derrick did a first look at Blue Mountain Park in the afternoon after getting ready at hotels in Coquitlam. The weather was a little iffy that day but thankfully it held off for the most part, and other than being cold, they were able to avoid the rain and get some great photos of themselves and their wedding party. Beautiful Life Studios did both photography and videography for the day and were so fun to work with and get to know!

The ceremony was set up downstairs at the Diamond Alumni Centre with an wooden arch that Tania's brother made from drift wood found near their family home. Her mom and aunts then decorated it with flowers and greenery. The wedding party all arrived and waited for the guests to be seated and then Lani from Young, Hip and Married began one of my favourite ceremonies of all that I have witnessed! Seriously, if you are looking for a heartwarming and funny personalized ceremony check out Young, Hip and Married and all the great officiants they have available. One of the most anticipated members of the wedding party was Duke, Tania and Derrick's rescue dog (as seen above) and he looked so adorable in his little tux... and was quite photogenic that day!

After the ceremony, guests made their way upstairs for cocktail hour while family photos happened downstairs. Table runners, chair covers, head table decor and ceiling swag were all provided and set up by Absolute Decor Rental and DJ services were by Absolute DJ's. Dinner was made onsite by the in house catering team and was so good. The amount of options were amazing so you know that any guest will be able to find something they like!

They had a great cake made and delivered by Le Gateau and decorated with some fresh flowers. After dinner, the cake was cut and then the party started! I loved that they rented some lounge furniture from Bespoke Decor Rentals and set it up in front of the great stone fireplace in the venue. It was on the opposite side from the dance floor which is great for those who want to sit and visit (or play some competitive rounds of Jenga!).

Wink Photography was brought in to set up their portrait station. It's basically an open air photobooth but the photos are taken by a photographer with an actual camera and it's lit and you get direction from the photographer. The photos are then available for download online afterwards but they are great photos and provide fantastic memories for your guests.

At the end of the night, City Limousine arrived with one of their buses and provided transportation for guests back down to the two hotels. They did a few runs which was great because they had quite a few guests from out of town and didn't have their own vehicles.

Overall, it was such a great day with these two and their friends and families. Tania's bridesmaids were so much fun and awesome to get to know and it was so obvious how they feel about her.

If you have any questions regarding this or any of the vendors please comment or send me an email!

Happy Planning,
Sara

Vendors:
Photography & Videography- Beautiful Life Studios
Venue- Diamond Alumni Centre
Officiant- Lani from Young, Hip and Married
Decor- Absolute Event Rentals
DJ- Absolute DJ's
Cake- Le Gateau Bake Shop
Limo- City Limousine
Portrait station- Wink Photograhy
Hair & Makeup-  East Vanity Parlour
Furniture Rentals- Bespoke Decor

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The cost of weddings and why? Part Four

4/11/2018

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Here is the final part of my blog series on what goes into the pricing of wedding services and products. If you haven't yet, you can read Part One featuring Joanna from Joanna Moss Photography, Part Two with Jenny from Mink Makeup and Hair and Part Three featuring Jane from Budget Blooms.

The right vendors...

So, after all the talk about budget and how to spend your money in the smartest way possible one of the best ways to know which vendor to go with is through your gut. Do your due diligence of course by checking out previous work and client reviews but if they are the right vendor for you most likely, you're just going to know it. And, if you don't have doubt about it then that should also mean the cost works for you.

Part four of this series features Mathew Bittroff, owner and DJ with Mathew Bittroff DJ Services. Mat and I have worked together quite a few times now in the time that he has been back in Vancouver and I always hear great feedback from my clients.

Wave hi to Mat in the back corner setting up!

What service(s) do you provide?
Mainly DJ services! So that means a sound system, microphones, dance lighting and the best music. I also provide MC services.

How long have you been in business?
I have been a professional DJ for 8 years, but I relocated to Vancouver from Edmonton in 2015 where I worked for the top DJ company in Edmonton, Grindstone Productions.

How many weddings do you book each year?
Since I was new to the area, in my first couple years in BC I mainly subcontracted for some large companies while I grew my own business. It's been between 30-40 events in total per year and if I keep growing I hope to get to about 50 per year as my own company.

What do you love about working on weddings?
I love the atmosphere! It's pretty rare for people to be in a bad mood at a wedding. I also love the food! hehehe But seriously, after hundreds of events and doing this for many years I love being able step in and save the day with my suggestions, fixes, and general experience. And of course I love reading the room and getting everyone up on the dance floor with the perfect song choices.

What is either the average amount of hours or minimum amount of hours that you put into each wedding?
I'll try to break this down and explain what I'm doing. For the sake of this example let's say I'm only playing music for the typical 5pm-midnight reception and not for the ceremony: Pre-Booking - 1 hr Building a quote for a potential client that addresses their needs and fits their budget. Meeting with clients who would like to go over anything in person. Following up with potential-clients via email and answering questions and concerns. Booking - 30 min Drafting & signing a contract, creating an invoice, and answering new questions. Planning - 1.5 hr Pre-wedding consultations, following up with clients about music choices and getting them to fill out a planner. Coordinating with wedding planner, MC, or other parties involved with the flow of the wedding. Prep - 1.5 hr Going through planner from clients, downloading music, creating playlists for the different stages of the evening, renting anything extra the client has requested. Wedding set-up - 1.5 hrs Unloading equipment, setting up the sound system, lighting, doing a sound check and coordinating my DJ location with the venue manager or wedding planner. Music - 7 hrs The best part! Playing the best tunes and keeping people dancing! Take down - 1 hr Packing up all the gear and loading it back into my car. TOTAL HOURS: 14 hrs (not counting travel)

What factors go into/went into determining your prices?
The biggest factors that determine my price is the time of year, how many hours of music the client needs, and if I will need to rent any special equipment. (May-Oct seems to be the busiest time of year with August being peak wedding season)

Any extra comments on pricing for weddings?
During wedding season, since I am a one-man operation my prices need to stay at a certain level regardless of workload because I am still committing my company to that event for that day on my calendar. Sometimes this can make it difficult to price out weddings for clients that only need music for a couple hours in hopes of saving money.

Well, there you go. I really hope that this series has been beneficial and educational and overall has helped you in your planning. Where to spend your money is a big decision and when you are looking into this for the first time it can be overwhelming.

If you have any questions please comment or send me an email and I'd be happy to chat.

Happy planning,
Sara

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The cost of weddings and why? Part Three

3/29/2018

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Welcome back! Here is part three of the series on the cost of certain wedding services and products. If you are just joining us, you can catch up by reading Part One with Joanna Moss Photography and Part Two with Mink Makeup and Hair. I'm really hoping that these posts can shed some light on where your money is going as you plan your wedding.

Paying more...

So, there may be times that you do end up spending more than your budget for a certain vendor. This doesn't need to be a negative. As long as you are being cognizant of the big picture and the entire budget then going over on something can work. I look at it this way... if there is a service or product that you have really fallen in love with and will help make your day the way you want it to then look to see if you can find the extra money somewhere else in your budget. Even if you find something a few hundred dollars cheaper, if it's not what you actually want, I look at that as a waste of money rather than a savings. Why spend any money on different flowers, or decor, or whatever it may be if you aren't truly happy with it?

In today's blog, we hear from Jane, owner of Budget Blooms, a florist based in Delta. Jane was one of the very first florists I worked with in my first year or weddings and we have continued to work together multiple times over the years.

What service do you provide?
We are a full service florist. We stick to flowers so that we can keep our costs as low as possible. We supply vases for low arrangements only. We do offer our buy back tall vases for ceremony only – maximum two per wedding to help out the smaller weddings who don’t need a decoration company.

How long have you been in business?
12 years

How many weddings do you book each year?
Approx. 200 – about ¼ are larger sized weddings. We do not have a minimum spend so we do a mix of wedding sizes. It sounds like a lot but we manage each weekend separately to ensure we are not overbooked on tough items vs. easier items.

What do you love about working on weddings?
I love being able to bring a dream to life for our budget minded Brides. We can still do so many pretty looks and still stick to a budget.

What is the average amount of hours that you put into each wedding?
It’s tough to answer this one as sometimes we do 100 emails with a smaller wedding and 10 emails with a larger wedding. You can never tell but it’s a lot more hours behind the scenes than a customer ever guesses. Re-reading emails and studying photos to ensure we have the look correct. Chasing after flowers that have not shown up to ensure we have them etc.

What factors go into/went into determining your prices?
Our pricing is an average markup as per any retail store, but with a little extra to ensure we are covered due to a product with a 5 day life cycle. When we order your flowers we have to order extras as with any product there is damage when we get it. That bunch of roses from South America will have 4 broken stems out of 25 so we have to order 50 as you need 27 for your order. Some of the heads will be crushed. The local product may have been bumped on our auction cart and we lose 10 stems. If we could just order the 5 perfect stems needed then that would work to help lower costs but we can’t. We have to order 10 and we typically can only use 5 to 7 of them as we know you would not appreciate bruised flowers.

Any extra comments on pricing for weddings?
As with any purchase you make there is more work than actual product put in. The time you spend with us ordering and detailing your order. Then confirming it closer to your date and going through the details again. Time is then spent on formulas for each product, a total is sent to our wholesaler or we wait to buy it at the local auction. I am up at 5:45am to watch 3 hours of auction to get the perfect shades for the weddings this week. Then we go to the auction to pick up the flowers, bring them back to the store and condition them. That means that we spend time cleaning stems/putting in fresh water and sorting out stems for each event. The week prior we have already spent time going through a supply check to ensure we have the right ribbon, packaging material to deliver it, we refresh ourselves on all details we have on your wedding. This all happens prior to making anything. Wednesdays we start to work on the wedding items that need to be made early.

I'm learning so much from these chats I'm having with other vendors as well! I've always known that there is a lot of extra work put in behind the scenes (which is what motivated me to write this series) but one thing I can say I had never taken into consideration is the fact that florists need to order that much extra product just to make sure that they have enough perfect looking flowers to make your bouquets, centerpieces and everything else.

Next time, we will hear from Mat Bittroff, owner of Mathew Bittroff DJ Services.

As always, if you have any questions, email me or leave a comment!

Happy planning,
Sara

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The cost of weddings and why- Part Two

3/21/2018

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Welcome to part two of the blog series where I explore the costs behind different services in the wedding industry. Today will be about hair and make up. If you haven't already, check out Part One where I spoke with photographer, Joanna Moss.

What is most important to you?

After deciding on the overall budget for the wedding, the next thing I suggest is for couples to choose the top three items or services that are most important to them (ex- photography, food and decor or entertainment, dress and open bar). Doing this can really help you get the wedding that you envision without overspending. The online spreadsheets for budgets are a great start but it's also important to remember that they are generic... not a "one size fits all". Don't feel that you need to stick to it completely- feel free to move things around and add money to what is important to you and take it away from items you don't place as much value on or maybe don't need.

So, what is behind the costs of all of these wedding services? The thing to remember is that you aren't just paying for the final product or the day of service. This is one of the questions I wanted to ask the vendors who are taking part in this series along with how long they have been in the industry, the amount of time they spend on each wedding, etc. What I really hope is that reading these answers will assist with all the couples who are planning their weddings and feeling the pressure of staying within their budget.

Next up is Jenny from Mink Makeup and Hair. Clients of mine have used Mink's services multiple times and I always get great feedback about them.

What service do you provide?
Mobile Hair Styling, Makeup Applications and Lash Extensions

How long have you been in business?
11 years

How many weddings do you book each year?
170-200 wedding bookings alone

What do you love about working on weddings?
We love how everything comes together! The dress, jewelry, makeup, hair, shoes, flowers.... so much to coordinate! It really is a great moment when see our Brides all done up and ready to meet their soul mate at the alter!

What is the average amount of hours that you put into each wedding?
The amount of time that goes into each wedding booking varies. This is due to the fact that each wedding is unique, the amount of added services (such as Bridesmaids and Mothers), multiple dates (2 day wedding events, engagement shoots, multiple trials), scheduling staff and so on. Time spent is somewhere between 10 hours (bride only booking with one trial) and 40 hours.

What factors go into/went into determining your prices?
Current going rate in the industry along with continued education, makeup and hair supplies, computer programs and other (website, advertising,studio/office space in Vancouver), merchant fees (Visa/Mastercard), touch-up kits and lashes (strip lashes included in packages $8-$40/pair) and of course Bridal Experience!!!

All of our stylists are professionally trained make up artists and hairstylists.  On average schooling can range from $8000 to $18,000.  An experienced artist will have a fully stocked kit and could be valued anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000!!!

Any extra comments on pricing for weddings?
Weddings can be pricey but if you book early you may be able to take advantage of special offers from the artists you choose. We do offer early booking bonuses and can work with small or limited budgets! Mink also has 3 different packages to offer brides and we will work with the Bride to find a Mink stylist who is a PERFECT FIT for her personality, vision, budget, and for the kind of experience she wants created for her.

The thing that Jenny said that really jumped out at me is the cost of the kits that each artist has. That is a lot of money that they have to put up beforehand in order to be effective. I think about how much money I can spend at Sephora or MAC and I'm only trying to buy makeup for my one type of skin, coloring and style. Imagine having to have everything on hand for all skin colors and types?! Having an artist that has all these in their kits is sooooo important! You don't want to be walking down the aisle looking orange or a weird color because your makeup artist wasn't prepared for you and couldn't match your skin color. Not what you want any day let alone your wedding day!

Coming up next in a few days, I talk to Jane, owner of Budget Blooms. Watch for it on the blog soon!

As always, if you have any questions, email me or leave a comment!

Happy planning,
Sara

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The cost of weddings and why? Part One

3/15/2018

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If you have begun the process of planning your wedding then you may have also incurred some "sticker shock" while researching vendors. The business of weddings is admittedly a big business, with estimates of it being worth $5 billion per year in Canada alone. Since for most of you couples, your wedding is the first event of this size that you are planning and when you start getting quotes it can typically be a bit overwhelming.

In my seven years of planning weddings, I've worked with budgets from $5000 to $50,000+ and I've come across all levels of prices for every service. Like I mentioned above, since most couples are planning an event of this size for the first time I wanted to help provide some insight as to what goes behind the pricing from a few very successful vendors in the Vancouver wedding industry. It's easy to look at the product or service and think that it's just a one day thing and automatically jump to the conclusion that it's priced too high. The vendors who will be featured over the next while have given some pretty transparent answers which I think will help immensely! I'll also throw in a few of my own tips.

Take "affordable" out of your vocabulary

I know what you are thinking... "Sara, are you crazy? You talk about budget all the time and now you want me to forget about affordable??". You are partly correct about that... I do talk about budget a lot and I really believe that to help reduce stress in planning that sticking to your budget is key (you can read what I say about deciding on a budget being your first wedding planning task in this previous blog post).

But as for the word affordable it can actually be less helpful than you think. Very often, I see couples post on wedding Facebook pages or other sites asking for "affordable (insert service here)". Then they get multiple replies and have to search through them and they might still not fit the budget. The biggest thing to remember is that the term affordable is different for each couple. Not only is it going to depend on overall budget but also the importance you place on that particular service. My advice is that if you are going to post asking for recommendations to also include your max budget for what you are looking for and then that should help direct the responses to be more helpful to you and save you time in the long run. Remember the saying that time is money! It's also a lot less stressful when you aren't falling in love with vendors and then realizing that you might not be able to afford them.

So, what is behind the costs of all of these services? The thing to remember is that you aren't just paying for the final product or the day of service. This is one of the questions I wanted to ask the vendors who are taking part in this series along with how long they have been in the industry, the amount of time they spend on each wedding, etc. What I really hope is that reading these answers will assist with all the couples who are planning their weddings and feeling the pressure of staying within their budget.

First up is Joanna Moss of Joanna Moss Photography. I've had the pleasure of working with her at a wedding last year for our clients Linda and Alex as well as a styled shoot that was featured on the Wedluxe blog in December. Joanna has an amazing eye for details and really captures your entire wedding day in a beautiful, timeless way.

Photo by Joanna Moss Photography

What service do you provide?
Photography

How long have you been in business?
9 years

How many weddings do you book each year?
15-20

What do you love about working on weddings?
I love the joy of the day, everyone is happy.

What is the average amount of hours that you put into each wedding?
On average I put in about 50-60 hours over the course of a year. That includes, consultations, emails, phone calls, research, engagement session (editing, backing up, uploading), preparing for wedding day, timelines, wedding day (editing, backing up uploading), social media posts, blog posts, book designs, book revisions, and delivery.

What factors go into/went into determining your prices?
My rate is based on the amount of hours I put into each wedding. Products are priced separately.

Any extra comments on pricing for weddings?
There is a lot going on in the background that couples purchasing services aren't aware of. It's easy to purchase products because you see exactly what you're paying for. If we structured ourselves the same way some other non-wedding industry service providers like lawyers and billed/invoiced for every phone call and every meeting etc, you'd see how much time goes into your wedding and you wouldn't be as sticker shocked by the price

Joanna has a great point about what would happen if wedding vendors billed like lawyers do. There really is so much time away from the camera that photographers put into each couple which of course has to be taken into consideration when setting prices for their services. When you are interviewing photographers (or any vendor for that matter) feel free to ask questions like this. Of all the vendors I've chatted to about this, they have all said they are happy to answer these questions... they want you to feel how confident they are in what they provide. And if you happen to come across someone who can't really answer them then they may not be the right fit for you.

Coming up next in a few days, I talk to Jenny, owner of Mink Makeup and Hair. Watch for it on the blog soon!

As always, if you have any questions, email me or leave a comment!

Happy planning,
Sara

Find the following parts of this series by clicking on each below...
Part Two with Mink Makeup and Hair
Part Three with Budget Blooms
Part Four with Mathew Bittroff DJ Services

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Maan Farms Styled Shoot

2/28/2018

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This styled shoot has been featured on a few wedding blogs such as Real Weddings, Style Inspired Weddings, Okanagan Weddings, Strictly Weddings and The Wedding Guru in the last few months but I wanted to share it as well. This was actually my first styled shoot that I had ever taken part in and I couldn't have asked for a better group of vendors to show me the ropes!

As vendors, we had talked in the past about how Pinterest can be so great on one hand and on the other it can be a shock when couples take their favourite photos to their decorator or florist, etc. and find out that what is being featured is well above their budget. We wanted to do a shoot that showcased the same style but at two different price points. We chose the same colour scheme and some main pieces that we could then build on to take us from budget friendly to higher end.

First off, let's start with the venue. Maan Farms is a family run farm in Abbotsford, BC which has an original barn that they have made available to host weddings and events.

The flowers were a big part of this and I loved Robin, from Bootah Jardin, and her ability to keep costs low for the first look but also in line with current trends. Garlands of greenery and eucalyptus are so popular right now but even something that looks simple can end up being costly. In fact, one thing I tell clients is that if it looks simple there's a good chance it's actually not. It's the incredibly talented vendors behind it that make it look so easy... from natural looking makeup to naked cakes... how hard could it possibly be to not cover the entire cake with icing am I right?! Well, it means that you can't hide the flaws beneath mounds of icing and fondant so your cakes better be pretty perfect! No crumbs or mismatched sized layers allowed! But, back to the topic at hand... Robin created some garlands for the first look using less expensive greenery and a method which kept the labour hours down, also a money saver. She then put in cut flowers to add some colour and rather than large floral centerpieces we used candles and lanterns to add height.

The second look also included garland but the pieces were hand tied (adding labour hours) and with more greenery. Robin then put together a gorgeous centerpiece that brought in flowers that matched the bridal bouquet.

With the linens, again, we started out with a more budget friendly option by having a table linen and runner. For the second look, we added in some extra layers to give it more depth and a luxurious feeling and we added in gold plated cutlery to the place settings and brass candle sticks on either side of the centerpiece (all decor was provided by Valley Weddings). The gold chiavari chairs were from Vancouver Chiavari Chairs.

Dalana, from The Cake and The Giraffe, created some regular size and mini cupcakes for our first look and then for the second look a three tiered cake which brought in elements of the decor we had (the gold hoops that Robin decorated with the same greenery and flowers as the tables and bouquets).

For the stationery, Rintzylee Designs added in some extra elements like the Mr. and Mrs. gold cutouts for the backs of the chairs for our second look and created gorgeous invitations, reply cards and place cards that could be used for both versions.

Carrie, from Clara Couture, provided us with two gorgeous dresses which we accessorized with jewelry and veils from The Borrowed Collection (unfortunately, the Borrowed Collection has since closed but the brilliance behind it, Elise, is now focusing totally on Atelier Elise). Hair and makeup were done by Elena Tsang.

Even with all the hard work from everyone else, it wouldn't have meant anything if it couldn't be captured so beautifully by our photographer, Annie of L'Estelle Photography. She has an amazing eye for detail and her direction is fantastic. She knows exactly how to get what it is she wants for each specific photo. If you are looking for a photographer, please contact her!

Thank you so much for checking out this shoot! I hope you loved it as much as I did and can be inspired to find a way to make your look work with your budget!

If you have any questions please email me!

Happy planning,
Sara

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Sara & Jason's Vancouver, BC wedding

2/16/2018

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Bride and groom sunset portrait at The View on Lonsdale

Photo by Paul Behm Photography

This wedding is definitely out of order from my previous blog posts and older than any I've posted about before... but it's MY wedding! When I wrote my 'About Me' post in early January I mentioned that I should write about mine because I had grand aspirations while planning my wedding in 2015 and 2016 to blog about it along the way. Well, that didn't happen as much as I had intended and there was no final post. 2017 ended up being the year that I finally started blogging on a regular basis so I've decided to go back and recap this one too.

I have been planning weddings since 2011, got engaged at the end of 2013 and then finally started planning my own wedding in 2015 and planned the date for 2016. From the beginning of my wedding planning career to when I finally started planning my own, my vision changed soooo much! The colors, the theme, the patterns... everything. This isn't super shocking of course and trends and tastes change but planning and coordinating weddings for five years before certainly gave me the best insight to what I didn't want.

One thing that was important to me was to make sure this wedding really felt like mine and not like one that I had planned before. Step one was choosing a venue that I hadn't worked in before. The other two stipulations we wanted were an awesome view and a place that we could bring in our own alcohol. We knew we wanted to offer a hosted bar for our guests but we also had a budget that we wanted to stick to. Honestly, I didn't have high hopes that we would go three for three on that checklist but then one day I was scrolling through Instagram and saw one of the accounts I follow post a photo and had the location tagged. I had never heard of the venue before so I started a search and wow.... it was like angels were singing! I was pretty sure it was perfect but I just needed to take Jason and go look. So what is this venue you ask? Well, it's The View On Lonsdale in North Vancouver. It's actually the top floor of the school board building and has AMAZING views of downtown Vancouver, the Lions Gate bridge and the ocean beyond. We also were able to bring in our own alcohol so check, check and check! Jason liked it as well and it was available in the time frame we were looking for.

I talked a bit about planning in previous posts (but if you want more information or have any questions about my wedding don't hesitate to leave a comment or send an email) so for this post I'm going to try and talk mainly about the actual day. The Saturday before our wedding POURED rain and the following few days weren't much better. We were hoping for an outdoor ceremony on the patio but could move it inside if necessary. The venue was available to us the afternoon before and our decorator, Valley Weddings, came in and did their set up and we brought the personal decor we had as well like the place cards, favors, and cake as well as the alcohol and mix. I also did "goody bags" to give to all my guests as they left so my bridesmaids, mom and I put those together. There were quite a few guests who I knew were staying in hotels in the area or driving an hour or so home so I wanted to provide them all with some snacks for the late night. Each bag had some bottled water (or juice boxes for the guests with kids) some cookies, a bag of chips and some candy. I anticipated most people taking full advantage of the open bar and figured some food and water would come in handy! But back to my decorators... Shyla and her mom Eunice, run Valley Weddings in Abbotsford and I have worked with them multiple times with other clients. I can be slightly picky and they listened to everything I wanted and boy did they deliver. One thing I always knew is that I didn't want white table linens. My colors for the wedding were navy, gold and blush pink with a bit of cream. We went with navy table linens, gold chargers and cream napkins and because we chose to do long family style tables they provided cylinder vases for all of the pillar candles I had purchased and ran them down the middle of the tables. The next day, our florist, Budget Blooms, filled in spots with peonies in bud vases. Jane also provided our gorgeous bouquets and two stunning arrangements that we used for our ceremony and then moved inside.

The day of the wedding, the sun was shining and it was gorgeous outside. Myst Makeup came to the location where we were getting ready and did makeup for myself and the bridesmaids and my cousin did our hair. Paul Behm, our photographer, arrived and started with the detail shots of the dress and rings and of me getting ready. I also made sure to have one of our invitations, done by Cornwall Stationery, so that we could include those in the detail photos as well. I loved what Hesha created so much so I definitely wanted them to be a part of our professional photos. On top of our invitations, she also made our seating chart, place cards, table numbers and other signage.

Meanwhile, at the venue, my day of coordinator, Alicia McDonald, was taking care of the final details there. BU Letters delivered and set up the marquee letters and Vancouver Chiavari Chairs brought the chairs which we used for the ceremony and then moved inside to the dinner tables. We had picked up the cake from Hello, Sunshine Cake Studio the day before so it was put out and the bar set up.

The bridesmaids and I arrived at the venue followed by Jason and the groomsmen to start our first look and wedding party photos. Our ceremony was at 4:00 and I wanted to go directly into cocktail hour and then dinner without a long gap so we did the majority of our photos before guests arrived. We also had hired Capture Productions to do videography so they were there as well. We finished with plenty of time so I got to go upstairs and check everything out in advance. It was so great to see the finished set up before anything was out of place and it gave Paul and Capture Productions the ability to get photos and video. I spent a lot of time planning and I wanted evidence of all of it!

The ceremony started right on time (I wouldn't have it any other way!) and once it was finished we took a few minutes to ourselves and then came back into the cocktail hour and took family photos. It was also important to me that I get at least one photo together with each guest or family group and we used this time to get a lot of that completed.

Johnny, from Man About Town Entertainment, was our DJ for the night and he played for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and reception. We were introduced into the reception to the Michael Buble version of 'Me and Mrs. Jones'... a nod to our last name... but we just played a portion of it since the song itself is about an affair! For first dances, etc. make sure you pay attention to the lyrics! Some songs sound romantic or about true love because of the name but that's not always so.

Dinner began and it was catered by Forage, who are the exclusive caterer to the venue. I did write a post about our menu tasting experience and now I can confirm that the product the night of the wedding was just as amazing. I only heard good things and I loved that they use fresh and local products whenever possible.

Overall, the wedding day was everything I could have hoped for and I send our most heartfelt thank you's to each vendor that helped us and our friends and family for being there to celebrate!

Make sure to check out Paul Behm Photography for more photos!

Again, if you have any questions about any of the planning or vendors please send me a message!

Happy planning,
Sara

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Fairmont Waterfront Styled Shoot

Redwoods Golf Course Styled Shoot

Christina & David's Vancouver wedding

Tania & Derrick's Burnaby Mountain wedding

The cost of weddings and why? Part Four

The cost of weddings and why? Part Three

The cost of weddings and why- Part Two

The cost of weddings and why? Part One

Maan Farms Styled Shoot

Sara & Jason's Vancouver, BC wedding

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