Blog | Alexandra Lillian Weddings And Events Winnipeg - Part 4
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September 24, 2019 In Uncategorized By Alexandra

Mercedes and Brett | Portage La Prairie Wedding

I met Mercedes and Brett in January 2019 at the Wonderful Wedding Show. I was hosting my first EVER wedding planning 101 workshop and they happened to be guests.

After the workshop session Mercedes and Brett attended, we sat and spoke more about their wedding. Our conversation ended with them hiring me there on the spot for their summer 2019 wedding in Portage La Prairie. It was such a good feeling to know that guests like Mercedes and Brett saw value in what I was providing guests of the workshop!

A couple months after the workshop I had the privilege to assist Mercedes and Brett tie the knot. Here’s some highlights from their big day!!!

Vendors: Sierra Jade Photography | William Glesby Center | Portage Golf Center | Cravings Catering | Mil Jeanne Flowers and Accents | Alexandra Lillian Weddings and Events | Trident Music | Trident Films | Foil Salon | Beauty Box

January 4, 2019 In Canadian Wedding, Wedding Fitness, Wedding Planning Tips By Alexandra

Top 5 Pre-Wedding Relaxation Tips

  • Prioritize Sleep

Sleep sets the tone for your day.  If you have a rough nights sleep, your more likely to be less productive and eat worse the next day.

Everyone’s needed amount of sleep per night is different.  I personally adore a solid eight hours of sleep per night. Leading up to my own wedding I saw sleep as my “me” time.  Each night I treated myself to a solid pre-sleep routine of tea, reading a non-fiction book to calm the mind and a good snuggle with my now hubby.

As tempting as Netflix can be, turn off all screens and relax!

  • Drink lots of water

Drinking water will make you feel more energized throughout the day and it will give your skin a nice glow!

Grab a reusable water bottle and fill that sucker a couple times a day.  Trust me, your mood and skin will thank you!

  • Get Moving

See a trend here?  Feeling relaxed is all about the basics get your bod moving each day. This can include going for a walk with the future hubby, going for a run, crossfit, attending a spin class or power shopping for wedding accessories.  Girl, you know how much of a workout shopping can be!

  • Do some at home yoga or meditation

To some people, yoga and meditation can seem intimidating.  Let go of those worries, because yoga and meditation can be whatever you want it to be.

My suggestion is signing up for programs like the Soul Squad.  It’s an online meditation program that walks you through the basics of meditation in a supportive community.

  • Go to Thermea

Treat yo self!  Going to the spa or Thermea is the perfect way to relax before the wedding.  To help you let go of any pre-wedding anxiety I will be giving away two passes to Therema at the Wedding Planning 101 Workshop I’m hosting at the Wonderful Wedding Show on January 19 and 20!!!  You will be entered to win the two passes by attending the FREE workshop. The winner will be drawn on Monday, January 21, 2019 and they will be contacted via email.

CLICK the link below to register for the workshop!

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/wedding-planning-101-workshop-tickets-52945197511

December 27, 2018 In Canadian Wedding, Wedding Planning By Alexandra

2018 – Year in Review

Wowie, 2018 has been quite the year!  A theme for this year has been growth and transformation.  One year ago, I set goals for myself both personally and financially.  I not only reached those goals but I surpassed them and I could not be prouder!

FINACIAL + BUSINESS GOALS

In January 2018 I made the decision to dive head first into wedding planning full time.  As many business owners know, this is a massive leap to take.  For my first year after leaving a full-time job I saw a decrease in income, but saw an EXPONENTIAL increase in my happiness!  Wedding planning feeds my soul, and getting to do it full time is such a blessing.

With going into weddings full time, I bumped up my goal amount of weddings for the year.  In January I set the goal to coordinating 25 weddings, and guess what… I exceeded my goal and coordinated 28!!!  I know this may not seem like a lot, but this was a HUGE achievement for me and my company.  Lisa my Lead Coordinator played a major role in this success.  I can’t put into words how much I appreciate having her on my team!  Without her, we would NOT have been named one of the Top Three Wedding Planners in Winnipeg for 2018!

MEDIA GOALS

Starting off the year I gave myself the goal of appearing on TV once.  Girl, I knocked that goal out of the ballpark and appeared on TV twice this year!  I’m naturally a very anxious person, so it was one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done.  I had the privilege to speak on both Global Winnipeg and CTV News.  Both times I had my incredible husband behind the scenes supporting me every step of the way.  Funny story, during the CTV taping my husband was trying to take some behind the scenes photos for me (#instahubby am I right?).  One of the camera crew saw him doing this and offered to get closer up and get some shots.  Needless to say, this guy knew all the best angles and got captured some great moments.

NO WEDDING SEASON COLD GOAL

I’m definitely the type of person that gets sick easily, especially if I don’t prioritize self-care.  One thing that changed my life was reading the book The Ripple Effect by Greg Wells.  I HIGHLY suggest everyone reads it!  He speaks on how we need to “sleep better, eat better, move better and think better,” to live healthy productive lives.  This was my go-to book referral for everyone in 2018.  Greg, if you ever read this shoot me a discount link for readers!

This book opened my eyes to how necessary sleep is to push through wedding season and not get bogged down with a cold.  I took Greg’s advice to heart and DID NOT GET A SINGLE COLD (woop woop) all wedding season!  This allowed me to be there for all my clients and put my full heart and soul into their weddings.

2018 showed me that I’m able to achieve more than I could ever imagine.  I’m so excited to see where 2019 takes me and my business!  BRING IT ON 2019!!! <3

-Alex xoxo

November 19, 2018 In Canadian Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding Planning Tips, Winter Wedding By Alexandra

Top 5 Things to Consider When Planning a Winter Wedding

Winter weddings are PERFECT for the bride who wants a moody, romantic candle lit wedding.  I have the privilege to execute several winter weddings in 2018 and could not be more excited for them!  For all those 2019 / 2020 brides thinking about having a winter wedding, here’s five things to consider when planning a winter wedding in Winnipeg!

Guest Availability

With all the many holiday events, the winter months can be busy for some people. Keep this in mind when choosing to plan a winter wedding.  Here’s a month by month breakdown;

November: Early November can still feel a bit like fall. So if you want a Winter wedding, hold off until the last two weeks of the month.

December: Choose dates after Christmas and don’t be afraid of hosting a New Years Eve wedding! People want to celebrate, so why not have them celebrate with you!

January / February: Most people are back from winter holidays at this point. If you want the most amount of people to attend the wedding, then these months are a safe time to get married.

Flowers

Fresh flowers are one of my favorite parts about weddings! The smells, colours and textures, ughh it’s heavenly.  However, the one time I will suggest ordering silk flowers is if your winter ceremony or wedding photos will be outside. Most flowers don’t do well in the cold and will start wilting if left outside for too long.  Even if your bouquets and boutonnieres are silk don’t worry, your floral arrangements for the ceremony and reception can still be real!

Ceremony Locations

Since Winnipeg gets so cold in the winter months, your ceremony will most likely take place inside.

However, if you do choose to host an outdoor ceremony please ensure your guests are told in advance so they can dress appropriately. Have blankets or a hot drink waiting for them when they arrive.  Who could say no to cup of hot chocolate?  Depending on the size of your wedding, rent 4-6 heaters for guests.  And last but not least, keep your ceremony short!  No one wants to sit out side for longer than 15 minutes in minus 10 -20-degree weather.

 

 

Photos

I can’t stress this enough, but please please please book an indoor photo location apart from your reception venue. Both your wedding planner and photographer can help you find a spot that matches your style.

If you do want a couple of outdoor photos, ensure everyone in the wedding party is prepared with warm clothes. There’s nothing worse than catching a chill on your friends wedding day.

Make sure everyone has a warm jacket, mitts, and comfy slip on winter boots. Ugg’s are perfect for this!

Scheduling for daylight

If you’re a Winnipeg, you know that our winters are cold and we have a little amount of daylight. One thing to consider, is how important photo with natural sunlight are to you.  If natural light is important to you, consider bumping up the ceremony time.

In late December the sun sets around 4:30 PM, so if you want natural light for your ceremony it would be wise to have your ceremony by 3:00 PM at the latest.

 

 

When you envision your wedding day, is it in the winter?  If so, please keep in mind these five tips to planning a winter wedding.  Your wedding planner will also be able to help you with all the smaller details that often get forgotten.

CONTACT Alex and her team at alex@alweddingswinnipeg.com to learn how to plan the perfect winter wedding!

November 8, 2018 In Canadian Wedding, Engagement, Wedding Planning, Wedding Planning Tips By Alexandra

What Bride’s Won’t Admit While Wedding Planning

They Judge Their Friends Weddings

Girl, we have all been there. Almost all my couples have told me that if they go to a friends wedding leading up to their own, they will take mental notes about what they liked and didn’t like about that wedding.  This can be things like the order of events, colour scheme, or first dance song.  Keep in mind that this doesn’t have to be a negative thing!  You could go to a wedding and adore how they changed up their wedding day timeline.  Let your wedding planner know about what you like and don’t like from those weddings.  Your planner will be able to create a theme or timeline that works best with your vision!

Hating Everyone’s Unsolicited Wedding Advice

Becoming engaged is such an exciting time.  When you get engaged A LOT of people come out of the woodwork and tell you how things should be done on your wedding day.  Auntie Sally believes you should do X, Y, on your wedding day, but then your friend Dayna thinks that the perfect wedding day should include A, B, C.  As a bride, don’t be afraid to be straight forward and direct about what you want YOUR wedding day to be.

Friends… If you have a bestie that’s engaged and your already married, do them a favor and hold back from overwhelming them with a zillion pieces of advice unless they ask.

They Get Caught up in What Guests “Expect” on their Wedding Day

Who gives a F*&^ what your guests want, this day is about you and your hubby.  This mindset of truly personalizing your wedding is becoming more popular and we at ALWeddings are totally on board!  Your wedding doesn’t have to follow any rules.  If you don’t want traditional stationary then don’t, or if you don’t want to do dances then don’t!

To be honest, as wedding planners we start salivating when couples come to us saying they want an nontraditional wedding. This means we get to flex our creative muscle and design an epic wedding that matches our client’s vision.

 

Photos by: Xandra Photography

September 14, 2018 In Canadian Wedding, Past Clients, Uncategorized, Wedding Planning By Alexandra

Melissa and Dylan’s Wedding

I first got introduced to Melissa a couple years ago in New York while sitting next to each other at a hockey game.  We both work in the events industry and instantly hit it off while talking shop.  At the time I had just launched my business and spoke about how excited I was to see it grow.  Who would have thought that several years later I would coordinate her wedding?

Some of my favorite photos from their wedding day included their fur baby Leo.  I swear I’ve never met a more handsome and smiley dog before.  Don’t they make the perfect little family?

Melissa and Dylan chose to tie the knot at the brand-new venue Whitetail Meadow.  It was the perfect backdrop to bring Melissa’s vision to life.  My favorite piece of décor used on their wedding day was the macramé hung from their ceremony arch.  This beast was not light, but tied (yes pun intended) everything together.

Can we take a moment to appreciate the stunning flower arrangements created by Lily Stone Garden?  The bouquets looked so effortlessly pulled together and added the perfect pop of colour.  Many of my 2018 couples decided to use a garland of greenery down the middle of their tables, but the added blooms gave it that extra wow factor for guests.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, what makes a wedding truly special is the people.  Melissa and Dylan were surrounded by the sweetest and most kind group of friends on their wedding day.

I wish Melissa and Dylan the best in this new exciting part of their lives!

VENDORS

Izabela Rachwal Photography | Lily Stone Garden | Whitetail Meadow | Alexandra Lillian Weddings and Events | Grace Hill Salon | Touch of Glass | Jamil Williams | Oak Bluff Limo | Garett Neiles | Little Flower Shop | Justine Barry | WOW Catering | 111 Films

 

 

 

August 30, 2018 In Canadian Wedding, Destination Weddings By Alexandra

Malaparte – Domestic Destination Wedding Tour

Ahh, The Six… The Big Smoke… or more commonly known as Toronto.  It’s Canada’s city of lights and home to some of our countries best wedding venues.

I like to travel to Toronto once a year to explore and get inspiration.  A couple months ago when I travelled there, I reached out to one of my favorite wedding venues Malaparte for a tour.

I’m a firm believer that you don’t get what you don’t ask for, so I wrote a thoughtful email to the staff at Malaparte, clicked “send,” and waited for a response.  Within 24 hours their venue coordinator April had emailed me back inviting me to see the venue.

Malaparte is perfect for Canadians looking to host a domestic destination wedding.  Say you grew up at opposite ends of the country from your fiancé, but met them at University.  Why not meet in the middle (Toronto) for your wedding?

The Toronto Pearson Airport is the easiest airport in the country to fly to, with direct flights from most airports in the country.  The day of my tour I took the red-eye from Winnipeg to Toronto and landed at 8:00 AM.  Like most major cities, the airport is no where near city center.  However, you can easily jump on the Union Pearson Express (UP Express) and get to downtown Toronto in 25 minutes.  Once you arrive in Union Station you’re either a quick walk, cab or subway ride away from any downtown hotel.

On most trips to Toronto I either stay at the Royal York (rights across the street from Union Station) or the Delta (attached by the skywalk to Union Station).  After checking into the Delta early (9:00 AM…unheard of right!) I freshened up and walked the four blocks to Malaparte.

Malaparte is located in the famous TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) Lightbox building on King Street West.  Needless to say, it’s a pretty cool building and a great way to wow guests as they arrive.

April their venue coordinator was amazing and greeted me with their inhouse chocolate fudge (Yum!) and venue package.  As we walked around she told me some amazing stories about Malaparte.  A year prior, they had a couple from opposite ends of the world that hosted their wedding there. They flew in guests from all over the world.

On my tour I got to see the rooftop terrace and dinning room.  The rooftop terrace is the main selling factor of the venue.  It includes a tent for a wedding ceremony and grand steps for a cocktail hour.  Very little décor would need to be brought in as the venue and skyline truly speaks for itself.

As we continued our tour we walked from the terrace to the formal dining room.  Let’s just say that it’s a jaw dropping space.  The ceiling was my favorite part of the room.  It’s white, textured and slightly angled starting from the bar.  If clean and simple is your look, then this is the venue for you!

A domestic destination wedding is a new concept for a lot of people.  So why not try something new and get married in Toronto at Malaparte!

 

 

 

August 21, 2018 In Canadian Wedding, Uncategorized, Wedding Planning By Alexandra

Janelle and Riley’s Club Regent Event Center Wedding

Janelle and Riley’s Club Regent Event Center Wedding

As a wedding planner I’m constantly surrounded by love and beautiful relationships.  Janelle and Riley’s love however, is the kind of love that could bring a tear to anyone’s eye.  With every look and touch they shared on the wedding day it was apparent how much they loved each other.

Janelle first contacted me about planning her wedding in May 2017.  She had an elegant meets modern vision for the wedding design.  The bridesmaids wore beautiful floor length light pink gowns, and the guys wore sharp blue suits.  To give the venue a modern twist, she used floating candles in glass vases on guest tables and added a “LOVE” marquee sign in front of the head table.

Janelle and Riley chose the Club Regent Event Center for the wedding reception.  I was completely giddy with excitement when Janelle told me, as I had never worked there before!  As a wedding planner it’s always fun to explore new wedding venues.  Their staff was amazing to work with!  They perfectly mixed professionalism and humor.  I don’t think I’ve laughed more at a wedding!

Both myself and my lead coordinator Lisa were incredible proud of how everything came together on Janelle and Riley’s wedding day.  We wish them nothing but the best in married life!

VENDORS

Charmaine Mallari Photography | Alexandra Lillian Weddings and Events | Club Regent Event Center | H & M | Fauna and Fern | Colour Me Artistry | Taylor Neufeld |

Stephanie Anne Cakes

 

 

August 14, 2018 In Uncategorized By Alexandra

Melanie and Marc’s – Country Wedding

Melanie and Marc’s Country Wedding

Melanie and I have been friends now for a couple of years.  We were first introduced at a friend’s house and hit it off.  Fast forward a few parties and 6:00 AM bootcamp classes later, and she asked me to be her wedding planner.

Little tid bit; I seem to be their family wedding planner. My first wedding EVER was Marc’s brother Colin’s wedding at the Forks, and in 2017 I did Melanie’s brother Justin’s country wedding.

Melanie created the perfect evening for her guests.  She incorporated her favorite colour dusty blue into almost every detail.  It was used in her bouquet (the largest bouquet I have seen all wedding season!), bridesmaid dresses, floral arrangements, and napkins.  For the comfort of her guests, she even preemptively rented air coolers for the tent.

Manitoba summers are normally pretty warm in temperature.  But my oh my, the weather gods saved their hottest day of the summer for this wedding.  You would never guess it from their cool composure.  But this amazing couple got married in +40 weather!

One of my favorite details about the wedding was it’s location.  Melanie and Marc decided to get married just outside of La Salle, MB on the same property where Melanie grew up.  In La Salle you get country vibes but close proximity to Winnipeg.  It was the perfect spot for them to tie the knot!

Melanie and Marc, thank you so much for including me in your wedding day! <3

VENDORS

Alexandra Lillian Weddings and Events | Reanne Berrard Photography | Beyond Flowers | Eph Apparel | Norwood Tent | Pioneer Catering | Jordy Rempel | Crystal Sound