Wedding Tips: Creating and Finalizing your Guest List

One of the hardest parts of wedding planning is creating and finalizing the guest list! We know it can be so hard, you wish you could invite everyone, but costs start to add up quickly the longer your guest list gets!

Start by writing down every person you’d want to be there. Before you start cutting down the list to fit your venue & budget here are a few things to consider:
– are we inviting kids? (It’s totally okay if you’re not!!)
– if we invite certain groups of people (ie. co-workers, extended family) will we invite them all?
– when was the last time you saw them?
– Have they met your significant other?
– Were you invited to their wedding?
– will everyone receive a plus-one, or where are you drawing the line?

Don’t feel obligated to invite anyone, even if you were invited to their wedding, especially if you haven’t talked to them in a few years or more!

Creating a guest list is something we can help you with if you’re having difficulty narrowing it down. Send me a DM today to book a consultation, I’d love to chat!

Photo Credit: Sheldon Isaac Images

The Top 5 Questions You Should be Asking When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer by Love The Moment Photography

Getting married is exciting and overwhelming all in the same breath. Costs can add up quickly and then panic mode sinks in, you start thinking how to “cut” down and stay on budget, you think you can find a “cheaper” photographer.

Wrong Move.

Think about it, after the dress is worn, the I Do’s are said, the cake is cut and the dance floor has had its share of Aunt Ethel doing her best Macarena, pictures are the ONLY memories you will have of all your hard planning. The details, the emotions, those magic moments that take your breath away can only be reminisced upon though a photograph.  The day goes by so quickly you have to hope and trust your photographer knows your vision and their job well enough that every lasting moment has been caught on camera.

1. How soon I book and what will it cost?
If you have a favourite photographer it’s best to choose your venue, date and then photographer.

We photographers book up a year in advance- sometimes even 2 years! One of the biggest parts of your budget should be set aside for a photographer, period.  I’m not saying the more money the better the photographer either, what I’m saying is you get what you pay for- do your homework. You will find photographers range from about $1500- $5000 all depends what the investment includes.

2. How many photos do I get and what’s final product going to look like?
Some photographers offer all the photos, but only give 50 edited photos. Others will offer albums, wall prints, or prints- this is often in the cost. Many or most give a custom USB with all the images for your printing leisure. Editing will be the final finish on your photos, I strongly suggest finding a photographer that has an editing vision you like- Light and airy, moody, bold colours, a matte finish, or black and whites. You want your photos to feel timeless to you.

3. How do I choose a photographer that best suits me?
When choosing a photographer, pour over a dozen or more websites, does their style speak to you? Are they editorial, documentary, romantic, posed, candid, traditional? Have a meeting with photographer(s) you are interested in. Ask to see a FULL wedding, not just the best on a website. You want to see how the photographer captures an entire day not just a few great shots. Most importantly, personality! The photographer is the one vendor that will be with you the longest on your day, make sure you like them… A lot.

4. Back up?
Does your chosen photographer have back up equipment in the case something breaks mid-day? How long and where do they keep your photos after they have been delivered. What if you loose your photos 5, 10 even 20 years down the road- your photographer should have all weddings backed up to external hard drive- maybe even a couple so your precious day is preserved forever.

5. Who Should I Hire?
Don’t book a family member or friend (unless this is legitimately their living) It never ends well for either party.  Don’t look for someone starting out in weddings, 4+ years and 40 weddings later is when a wedding photographer really is on their game. They can handle all lighting conditions, spur of the moment changes, they get every detail, they have talked with other vendors involved at a wedding- minister, DJ, wedding planner, to make sure everyone is on the same page and they are getting the notifications to be at key moments.

Bonus tips for perfect photography

* If you have getting ready photos make sure the area is clean of clutter.

* Have your wedding dress on a nice hanger for photos.

* Consider an unplugged ceremony, have your guests present- let the photographer capture the memories.

* Does your photographer offer an online gallery? You can send the link to family and friends to download and print any photos they want as well.

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Rachel Wittenberg (Rae) is the owner and primary photographer of Love the Moment…Photography.
She has been in the wedding biz for 10 years, capturing magical moments.  She prides herself on creativity making each wedding different than the next.

How to Stay Organized Planning Your Wedding

You’re engaged!  Congratulations!

  

Before you start your journey of wedding planning, it’s essential that you have an organized plan to make the process as seamless as possible. No question, wedding planning can be overwhelming. There are a lot of details that go into making an event like this.

 Not to scare you, but did you know that the average wedding in Canada can take 250 hours to plan.  Having a Game plan before you start will make the world of difference of keeping your stress level down and feeling confident about your special day.

Here are our top 6 tips to help keep you organized with keeping track of your spending, to-do lists, and communications so nothing slips through the cracks.

    1. Create a dedicated wedding email.    Keep all your emails related to your wedding in one place.  You can create folders within your inbox to easily find important emails.  You can create folders for each of your vendors, helpful blogs, invoices etc.  Give all your wedding vendors, and the venue this email.
    2. Get a Wedding Binder or Folder.  It might be a digital world, but you’re still going to need a place to keep important documents like contracts, invoices and brochures, so they don’t get lost.  Again, create tabs for things like wedding inspiration, to-do lists, service providers etc.
    3. Follow a 12-month checklist.  Don’t know where to get started on first? Use a Wedding Checklist to keep you on track, and break things down in small manageable chunks.    
    4. Schedule Time for Wedding Planning. Set aside time on your calendar every week for wedding planning, just like you would a doctor appointment or a gym workout.  If you don’t block off the time, it’s likely it will get put off….and this will always be at the bottom of your to-do list.
    5. Use Spreadsheets.  Spreadsheets are a fantastic tool to keep track of important information. You can use a spreadsheet for your Budget, Guest List with RSVP’s responses, Menu selection, and  Thank you Cards. Enter formulas to automatically calculate your budget or add up your Guest List.   
    6. Get help!   Planning a wedding is a BIG job, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.  This is where a professional Wedding Planner can come in handy. Wedding planners have the relationships and knowledge to help achieve your wedding day vision and ease the stress.   Alfresco Wedding Planner will put you at ease and guide you through what is possibly the most exciting, yet stressful time of your life.

Do you need help getting started or have questions?  We are here to create the best Wedding Day Experience for you, as you deserve it.  Contact us today liz@alfrescowedding.ca


Happy Planning!

 

Finalist for Best Wedding over $25,000 of 2018

I may not have won this award, however, I still feel proud of this wedding and being a finalist for the Best Wedding over $25,000 of 2018 by The Wedding Planner’s Institute of Canada.

Bride and Groom: Angelica and Joseph

Date:  Saturday, June 9, 2018

Theme: Idyllic and Graceful.  Everything about this wedding was picturesque from the Ceremony at Toronto’s oldest Roman Catholic church built in 1822 to the scenic and charming Venue overlooking Toronto’s city skyscape at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

      

This romantic love story began 5 years ago when Angelica traveled to Toronto and met Joseph.  Eventually, she returned to Brazil, but the two remained close. But these two couldn’t live without each other and shortly after became engaged.  It was a big undertaking to arrange Angelica’s family to fly to Canada for the wedding but was so worth it to see the magic between Angelica and Joseph.

Congratulation Angelica and Joseph!!  You two are such a sweet and beautiful couple, I wish you both the BEST!!

        

Vendors Involved:

Wedding Planner and Coordination: Yours Truly Alfresco Weddings and Events

Ceremony:  St. Paul’s Basilica

Reception Venue: The Royal Canadian Yacht Club

Photography:  Willow + Birch

Cake & Desserts: Rania’s Cakes

Staffing: DGS Events

Florist: Beachwood Flower Shop

Photo Booth: Fun Shot Photos

Band: Scott Neary

 

Guest Blog by BridesMaid.ca: How renting your bridesmaid dresses will make your wedding planning easier

You rent your groomsmen suits, your tables, your decor… the list goes on. So why not rent your bridesmaid dresses too? There are so many benefits to renting and the best of all is that it will make your life WAY easier when wedding planning mania is in full swing. Though the memories will last forever, one thing that won’t are the bridesmaid dresses. Here are a few ways that renting your bridesmaid dresses will make your wedding planning easier.

It will save you tons of time
Looking for a simple and stress-free dress shopping experience? Renting is made for you! You and your bridesmaids are busy people who don’t want to dedicate an entire day to dress shopping – and potentially still not pick anything! Say goodbye to the long trips to various boutiques and appointments at a tailor for alterations. At BridesMade, the whole process takes place online and can be completed in under 30 minutes. Plus, your bridesmaid dresses will be dropped off right at your doorstep! You can throw a remote bridal party fitting, and you don’t even have to worry about cleaning and storing the dresses after the fact. Learn all about how convenient the rental process is here.

Save your BFFs money
The average cost of buying a bridesmaid dress is enough to give any bridesmaid a scare. Not to mention that most women will be bridesmaids several times in their lifetime. Bridesmaids end up having to shell out a pretty penny to stand next to their BFF at the altar! By choosing to rent your bridesmaid dresses instead you can save each girl up to 60% off traditional retail prices, while still getting something that everyone adores. What’s not to love?

Your bridesmaids will LOVE you
Being a bride can definitely be a stressful time. Trying to juggle all of the planning, while keeping everyone important to you happy… it can be exhausting. That’s why suggesting your bridesmaids rent their dresses will automatically give you bride brownie points and keep your stress to a minimum. Your bridesmaids want the best for you, and you want the best for them too. Most bridesmaids really only wear their dress once and would love to save money and closet space. They will totally appreciate you thinking of them.

Do yourself and your bridesmaids a favour and make your wedding planning easier by opting to rent your bridesmaid dresses instead of buying them! Brides and bridal parties everywhere are making the savvy switch to renting, all while having peace of mind that precious time and money is being saved.

Written by:
BridesMade