With the era of email and everything virtual, many of our clients ask us about what to consider when doing an e-invitation, or if they should even do one at all. The e-vite has many benefits, some of which are obvious – the cost factor and saving some on your budget, minimizing your wedding footprint on the environment, and of course and most importantly to some of you – your TIME! Here are a few tips to consider when going electronic!

- With electronic invitations, assume everything gets forwarded, wether its to someone you forgot on your list, or your friend forwarding your chic invite for someone else to look at – so it has to be tested that it forwards well, and you have to understand people are looking at it in different formats.

- Think about the difference between HTML and PDF formats. It is definitely easier to send a PDF, but depending on the size of your guestlist it’s very likely that you will get tagged as spam if you send a lot. The other option is to have it embedded into email [HTML], which requires more work.

- For those of you who are traditional romantics who love the feel of hard copy invites, or for those of you who have parents that demand them you also have the option to send a printed invitation but direct guests to respond using a Web form or Website. It’s much faster than a traditional RSVP all the while still saving your SOME money on the extra card, postage, and paper! An online form allows you to obtain further information from guests in a way that’s easily organized and  that will maximize their experience. For example, learning of a food allergy, transportation preference, or need for a baby changing area or booster seat ahead of time will eliminate confusion or frustration on site.

Happy Planning!

- AWE Team

The debate to having versus not having children as part of your special day is a controversial topic. Of course, weddings are a time to celebrate so naturally your guests will want to bring their little ones along. The decisions that need to be made are; how many kids do you want at your wedding and how are you going to manage them?

The Breakdown

Kids Under 1: This batch of babies is usually in arms or asleep but it really only takes one cry during your ceremony or your speech to ruin that special moment- unfortunately there is no redo button!

Ages 2-5: This group of troublesome toddlers often find it difficult to contain their excitement. We normally see parents trying to calm their kids with candies and other distractions such as toys – but sometimes they just don’t work! It’s a gamble – if it works great, but if not a terrible tantrum can ensue.

Ages 5-9: This group is what our team likes to call “the runners”. This is the group of kids that run around EVERYWHERE, especially when a full blown game of tag is underway. The usual track these children like to run will include (but not limited to) making laps around your cake, your very delicate head table and their favorite space of all – your dance floor! The dance floor is a great open space for them to play and slide around on. This is definitely when a babysitting service should be employed!

Food for Thought

At most venues you will usually be offered a children’s choice of meal that is not only less expensive but will also be more appetizing, size appropriate and a healthier for the children attending your wedding. If your dinner is comprised of a buffet, ask your caterer for a children’s menu price which could save you up to 50% off the adult price per head.

We also advise against putting out candy and sweets for them ahead of time when they arrive at their place setting. They often eat these prior to dinner not only making them full but hyper for the rest of the night. If you are having goody bags, have them handed out right before the speeches to keep them preoccupied during this time.

If there is a separate room for kids with a professional and qualified babysitting service ensure, that beverages and snacks are available in the room.

Children over the age of 12 are considered adults in terms of food from your venue or caterer as well as entertainment. Kids over 12 will not appreciate colouring books, or a babysitting service, so keep this in mind when you are tallying your final numbers!

Smart Solution

The AWE team are strong believers in getting what you plan for. Our clients who do have a concern regarding the number of children at their wedding appreciate that we provide honest advice in hiring a professional and reliable babysitting service. Not only does this solve your problem but it does so in a classy way. What better solution than to provide them with a party of their very own. Our vendors will entertain children from the time they arrive through various games, crafts, music – all in an organized manner of course! The kids will also get their own gift before leaving the wedding – which can act as a favor as well! When hiring a babysitting service it is important not to hire just any ‘off the rack’ of the Babysitter– your choice should be someone who is not only Early Childhood Education and CPR trained, but who also specializes in event babysitting. Reliable services should also have no problem providing a criminal and background reference check as well. The price for something like this usually depends on the number of children, their ages, hours of supervision needed and the number of staff required but typically prices can range anywhere from $12-20 per hour, per child. This cost also usually includes crafts, activities and all equipment needed as well as the gift bags.

With so many of our new clients being from out of town, or stuck with the burden of catering to out of town guests, we wanted to share some ways you can make the settling in process fit within the wedding festivities in a warm and seamless way.

First, we feel it is important to take the time to recognize the special efforts made by your airborne attendees!  The following are few ideas the AWE team has compiled to ensure your guests get the welcome they deserve without putting a hole in your budget!

Home Sweet Home

One of the first steps to consider when expecting out of town guests is where will they stay? You can start by making your guests feel appreciated even before they arrive by setting aside a block of rooms at a local hotel that is close to either your residence or ideally your venue.  Many hotels will offer reduced group rates (reduced even further when you work with a planner!), and since you know the area better than your out of towners, booking accommodations in advance is an overall great idea.  In most cases the minimum number of rooms required to make a block is around 10 rooms per night.  If your out of town guest volume is above this it is often a nice gesture to have 2-3 room rate options at various hotels so that you guests have the choice in price point when they decide to book.  Once your selections are made you can include this information in your invitations, or on your wedding website for guests to refer to.  Not only does this easy and small gesture save your guests the hassle of making travel arrangements, but shows them you appreciate their effort to attend your event.

 Yummy Treats

Nothing hits home after a day of airplane food or take-out than a variety of yummy treats when your guests arrive at their hotel.  But before you start researching on the standard fruit basket put some thought into the message you want to send.If you have a small list of family and friends why not specialize the treats to the guests? If you know your college friend likes to unwind at the end of a long day with a glass of wine, its a good idea to throw in a bottle of wine with a small cheese platter. Or if your favorite aunt has a soft spot for chocolate she may be thrilled to find a plate of her favorite kind upon arrival.If your out of town guest list is too large for this much personal attention, consider gift baskets stocked with local treats or that go with the theme of your wedding. It’s important to call the hotel ahead of time to work out with the front desk or concierge the best way to get the gifts into guest rooms before they arrive, as well as when they should be dropped off to the hotel.

 The Little Travelers

If your guests will be arriving with the little ones in tow why not help out the parents with some post-travel trauma relief.  Prepare activity packs with age specific games and activities to keep the kids busy while their parents can enjoy their weekend away.  Busy kids will also be less disruptive to your weekend of events!  Ensure that you consider all items including, batteries, pen and paper! Also be sure to avoid anything that can be too noisy or messy!  In our experience large boxes of crayons are usually a safe way to go, and travel versions of board games work will if there are several children in the same age group.

The Survival Kit

It’s hard to imagine that after the catering, clothing and that to die for cupcake bar have all been paid for there is anything left over for welcome gifts.  However, putting together a survival kit containing all the information your guests might need for their stay is an easy and inexpensive way to show them your appreciation. 

Some things to include:

- A welcome note that greets your guests and thanks them for coming

- Directions to the nearest drugstore/convenience store if there isn’t one at the hotel

- Menus and directions to local restaurants (for an added touch put down your favorites!)

- A list of taxi and car rental services

- Brochures or a list of local attractions that they may want to look at while they are in town

- Maps and guides for public transportation – be sure to include directions to the closest pick up points

- Directions and phone numbers to the nearest same-day dry cleaners

- Local sources for fax, email, etc.  Many of your guests will still be working while they are in town!

- An itinerary of wedding events

- Driving directions from the hotel to your wedding venue and back (if budget permits you may want to consider a shuttle for those guests without vehicles)

- Family contact information

Be sure to ask the hotel for help as they will probably have all of this information on hand already

Other Ways to Include the Out of Towners

- Invite them to your rehearsal dinner or to a gathering taking place after the dinner, or a pre-wedding function

- Arrange for a hospitality suite at the hotel that is stocked with snacks and drinks

- For those guests who couldn’t it make from out of town why not send them a wedding program with a note that says they were missed

- Now a day with technology on our side you can even ask your videographer if they can create a live stream broadcast online so that people can view your wedding from miles away right at home!

Happy Planning from the AWE Team!

So the infamous HST is in full affect and so many of our clients have come to us with questions and concerns that we felt it beneficial to all brides and grooms planning their big day to get the low down on the dreaded HST.

 The new Ontario HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) now replaces the former GST and PST as of July 1st, 2010, combining the individual taxes into one tax of 13%.  Many wedding services already included both taxes however there are a few more areas where couples will now be hit!  As a result we must now re-train our minds to budget for this tax as part of your wedding budget as it can have such a huge impact on your overall spending.  If you aren’t working with a wedding planner its important to ask vendors when you meet what taxes they will now be forced to charge so you get a clear and accurate picture of what you’ll be expected to pay.

 The new HST will be applied to:

- Venue

- Florals & Decor

- Catered Meals

- Photography/Videography

- DJ/Band

- Wedding Officiants

 Cool Find: Your wedding cake is HST exempt!

 Ways to Save:

- Consider an off-season wedding (a lot of venues do not consider Nov-Dec off season as its the season for corporate parties and galas), instead aim for Jan-Mar

- Destination weddings

- Menus (why not try a cocktail style service or stations)

- Since you can’t dis-invite the HST you may want to try reducing your guestlist elsewhere – bringing down your headcount is the FASTEST way to close the holes in your pockets!

- Consider seasonal florals and decor

 Happy Planning from the AWE Team!

CTC West | South Asian Bridal & Formal Wear

It is definitely Bridal Season!  As we speak, North America’s 2010 and 2011 Brides are surfing the web, analyzing what the stars are wearing and scouring bridal boutiques in honour of one of the greatest internal debates – what should they wear on their wedding day!?!

At CTC West, we generally find that the “perfect outfit” rarely exists online, or in a bridal wear store.  Quite often, the PERFECT outfit… is yet to be made.

On her wedding day, a bride should be entitled to wear an outfit that fits, feels and falls the way Goldilocks would have it – jussssst right!  This is definitely not the day to be compromising on clothing!

As a bride, your wedding lehnga needs to be made up of all the right elements.  The right design, the right fabric, the right colour.  The right blouse cut with straps or sleeves that accentuate your features.  The right length and shape and cut for your lehnga skirt to make you feel like a modern-day Empress.  The elements should be perfect, and thankfully, you no longer need to settle on a make-shift solution!

At CTC West, we feel that if a lehnga is too long for a bride, the solution is not to simply cut an inch or two off the top – that’s like cutting the forehead off of the Mona Lisa!  You would lose the border or an element of design that ties the bottom of your lehnga into your blouse.  Your outfit is an art piece, and your body is the designer’s canvas.

The CTC West Custom Couture Experience ushers in a new era in South Asian Bridal Wear.  When you find a CTC West design that you are IN LOVE WITH, we make a brand new and unique piece just for you. Take a look at an example of the CTC West Custom Couture Experience below.

For more information on ordering your custom bridal wear, visit us online at CTC West.ca

One of the hottest trends this season has been the use of crystals in all aspects of decor. Wether a wedding, corporate gala or anniversay the use of crystals has been worked into practically every color scheme imaginable.  The ability of crystals to reflect light can make a soft room look bright and make a dark room look dramatic!

We sat down for a quick chat with the Creative Director at Design 2 Decor, Paras Mehta to find out about his inspirations in creating shimmering elegant events.

AWE: How long have you been designing in the Wedding/Special Event Industry?

Paras: I have been designing events since I was in middle school, but didn’t realize its career potential until I was 21.  I have been designing events professionally for eight years now and it is a true passion of mine.  I have had the pleasure of working with some of the city’s finest.

AWE: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Paras: Mainly, my clients are my inspiration.  They challenge me to create amazing event experiences that fuse their personality with my creative abilities.  My design inspirations come from nature, fashion, interiors, and architecture.  My mentors and colleagues in the design and events industry are always a source of inspiration.

AWE: What is your favorite color trend for 2010?

Paras: My favourite colour trend for this year is sapphire blue and coral, anything yellow…shades of green will always be my ultimate fave.  In terms of metallics, gold and bronze are definitely making a comeback in recent years.

AWE: What is the most popular design trend for 2010?

Paras: A return to the basics of event design and décor – Neutral palettes, monochrome colour themes, simple elegance…modern design with classic interpretations.

AWE: What are some of your favorite venues to work in?

Paras: My favourite venues in Toronto are determined by not only their interiors and level of service, but by the relationships that I have formed with their friendly and knowledgeable events team.  These include the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Pearson Convention Centre, Mississauga Convention Centre, Le Jardin Special Events Venue, International Centre Conference Centre, Marriott Hotels and Resorts, and the Intercontinental Toronto.

AWE: Why do you like working with event planners?

Paras: Planners are the backbone to an event.  They are talented producers that bring together all the components of an event.  I enjoy collaborating with planners to create amazing, seamless events that are organized, highly stylized, and a true reflection of their clients’ objectives.

Take a look at how Paras Mehta from Design 2 Decor has incorporated the use of crystals into his designs – let us inspire you with this visual spread of decor!