Jenna + Dan’s Dreamy Lake Wedding

It’s not every day that you meet two people with the most contagious smiles!  Jenna and Dan have this love that truly shines when they are together.  It spreads to everyone around them.  Take a peek at their photos, and I’m sure you will feel it too!

Vendors

Photography: Bree-Anne Merritt Photography

Planning and Coordination: Alexandra Lillian Weddings and Events

Catering: King Cole Catering

Tent: Springfield Tent Rentals

Florist: Timeless Florals

DJ: Aimes Music

Decor: Let’s Celebrate

Makeup: Vow Artistry

Hair: On The Avenue

Post Wedding – Documents to Change

Hello love birds!

Wedding season is upon us.  I’m so excited to see my couples tie the knot.  Lot’s of couples come to me saying “now that I’m married, what’s the next step to starting married life?”  After the wedding celebrations and honeymoon are done, I suggest for couples to sit down and decide which documents need to change.  This needs to happen if one of you has decided to take the others last name.

Here’s a list to follow when changing your last name.  I hope this takes away some stress, so you can focus on enjoying time with your new hubby!

Social Insurance Number

Passport

Nexus Card

Manitoba Health Card

Drivers License

Car Registration

Bank Accounts

Order new cheques

Canada Revenue Agency

Credit Cards

Employer Payroll

Manitoba Hydro

City of Winnipeg Water and Waste Department

School (University, College)

Insurance (home, car, life, health, income protection)

Doctor

Lawyer (update will and any legal documents)

Electoral Roll

Loans (car, mortgage, lines of credit)

Property Title

Investments (holdings, investment accounts)

Loyalty Programs

Professional Memberships

Sports Clubs

Social Media (Facebook, Instagram)

Voicemail

NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?

CONTACT Alex today to arrange a complimentary initial meeting.

Prioritizing My Wedding

PRIORITIZING MY WEDDING

Planning weddings for my clients is an incredible feeling, but planning my own wedding has been hard.  Setting aside time for my own wedding planning is not a priority of mine.  Meeting new planning clients and helping them plan their big day is so much more fun!

Great wedding vendors book prime dates a year and a half in advance.  My fiancé and I are now working with a fab team for our wedding, but boy oh boy was it hard to pull the trigger and sign contracts.  When we started the planning process we had a year and half until our wedding day, considered by some to be a longer engagement.  With our date, so far away it was hard to wave goodbye to our deposits, but I know it will definitely be worth it in the long run to work with our vendors.

Finding vendors that my fiancé and I clicked with was crucial.  I believe that on your wedding day you should be surrounded by people that make you smile and add to the overall experience.  This is a key concept that I tell my clients.  It reminds me of the quote “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou.  Make sure you hire vendors for your wedding that will do everything with that special touch of love.

I know that without a doubt all our vendors will do a wonderful job!  June will be our next big wedding adventure as we will be shooting our engagement photos.  I can’t wait to share them with you!

My hope is to post updates about my wedding every couple of months.  Make sure to “follow” my Instagram and “like” my Facebook pages for updates on new blog posts!
 

Happy planning!

-Alex

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MY TOP 5 RULES OF WEDDING ETIQUETTE 

Orient Express Wedding Photoshoot

Wow…just wow! The Orient Express Wedding Photoshoot is one of my favorite photoshoots I have ever designed. For over a year, I had wanted to coordinate and design a photoshoot at the Winnipeg restaurant Resto Gare.  I can’t believe it’s finally become a reality!

Inspiration for this shoot came from the Orient Express Train that ran from 1883-2009 in Europe.  This train was all about luxury!  The train addition at Resto Gare gave the same luxurious look, featuring bold hues of red and blue.

With such a beautiful venue, I wanted to keep other design aspects of the shoot very classic and minimal.  I had the incredible chance to work with, Anna Lang Bridal, Something Borrowed, The Flower House Winnipeg, Xandra Photography, Primped & Polished and Hannah Baker.  These women took a chance on me and my design concept, and brought it to life.

When designing a shoot, I truly believe it’s a collaboration between all vendors.  I come up with the general concept and allow vendors to add their own special touch.  This gives them a chance to try new techniques or trends.

Take a peek at the FULL photoshoot album

Like this look?  Alexandra Lillian Weddings & Events offers wedding design for our full planning clients.  

Contact us today to arrange a complimentary initial meeting.

CONTACT US NOW

Big Day Wedding Expo Experience and Design

The Big Day Wedding Expo was a hit.  I’m so proud of myself for taking the leap and investing in a wedding show.  I won’t lie… it was a lot of work to pull everything together but it was totally worth it.  Designing my booth and meeting all the wonderful brides-to-be made for such a wonderful experience.

Clean, crisp, and fun is how I would describe my booth.  As a lot of my weddings have some outdoor portion to them, I made my booth feel like Spring.  I did this by bringing in funky AstroTurf carpet.  Let me tell you, finding AstroTurf in in the middle of winter is not easy.  I tracked down the one Rona in Winnipeg that had some in stock and purchased their last few rolls.  The green added an extra pop and warmth to my booth, especially on a chilly March weekend.

For detailing on the walls, I created a balloon installation consisting of white balloons of varying sizes at different heights.  These balloons had the illusion of floating in mid-air.  I achieved this affect by using clear fishing string instead of coloured ribbon.  To help illuminate my booth I borrowed lights from my vendor friend Ally Papko Photography.  Lighting is key for any wedding show.  It helps brighten up your booth, making it feel warm and inviting.

My favorite part of my booth was my Ring Pops.  Remember those ring-shaped candies from the 90’s?  Well I totally brought them back for the show.  Between the Ring Pops and balloons, I definitely drew on people’s inner child.  Several of the brides-to-be were so excited to see Ring Pops because their fiancé proposed with one.

A wonderful friend of mine worked very hard to design my marketing material.  She did an incredible job creating a fresh-looking postcard that outlined my services and contact information.  Marketing material is key to having a successful wedding show.  I hope brides-to-be enjoyed reading over my postcards and booklets when they got home.

I had a wonderful experience at the Big Day Wedding Expo.  It was wonderful meeting all the brides-to-be and other vendors.  I hope to do another show soon!

Eight Ways to Prepare for the Big Day Wedding Expo

Photo: Victoria Anne Photography

Brainstorm wedding ideas

Do you want a glamourous, relaxed, or formal wedding?  Check out my Pinterest page for wedding inspiration.

Have three wedding dates in mind

When deciding on a wedding date there are many factors involved.  Three wedding dates gives you more flexibility, and a higher chance that the vendors you want to work with will be available.

Plan a full day with your girls

The ladies who brunch together, stay together!  Coordinate a brunch with your besties at your favorite restaurant.  My personal favorites are Cibo, Clementine, Stella’s Café, and the Park Café.

Dress to impress

Apart from taking selfies with your entourage, a lot of vendors offer Instagram contests.  These contests ask you to take a photo of yourself in their booth or with a prop and post it on Instagram using their hashtag.  Be ready for your close up by wearing your favorite outfit.

Make sure your phone is charged

You will want your phone charged to enter all the vendors Instagram contests, but you will also want to take photos of booths that catch your eye.  Vendor booths incorporate trendy elements that will be popular in coming seasons.

Don’t miss the bridal fashion show

Finding a wedding dress can be tricky!  Bridal fashion shows give you a chance to see different wedding dress shapes and designs.

Take your time with vendors

The advantage of attending a smaller show like the Big Day Wedding Expo is that you can spend more one on one time with vendors.  Personality is key when deciding on vendors.  Working with sweet, bubbly professionals ensures you have an enjoyable planning experience.  P.S.  Stop by the Alexandra Lillian Weddings & Events booth to say hi and view our packages.

Enjoy the day!

This is a fun part of the wedding process, so enjoy every moment. <3

Big Day Wedding Expo

I’m excited to announce that March 4-5^th, 2017 I will be participating in the Big Day Wedding Expo.  It’s crazy to think that only three years into my business I’m partaking in a wedding show.

The Big Day Wedding Expo is hosted at Assiniboia Downs just outside the West Perimeter.  The show offers a more intimate wedding show experience.  This allows brides and their posse to have a relaxed time speaking with wedding vendors.  For vendors it’s important to have time to listen to a bride’s wedding needs.  With an intimate show there will be less noise, less crowds, but the same enjoyable atmosphere.

Pop by for a visit March 4-5^th at booth 43!

2016: Year in Review

2016: Year in Review

2016 was an incredible year of “firsts” for my business and me personally.  It’s amazing to look back on all that I have achieved over the course of a year.

• First full wedding season

Thank you to all of my 2016 clients for including me in their wedding day.  Your trust means the world to me.  This year held a lot of gold sequins and stunning cakes!  Starting my own business has been a huge leap.  I had to trust my instincts and keep pushing to create the best wedding day for my clients.  This past year has shown me that I have what it takes to make it in the wedding planning industry, and I can’t wait for many more years to come!

• Working at new venues

I had the pleasure of working at many new venues this year.  Each venue was special, and had something unique that my clients connected with.  I would like to thank all the warm and welcoming venue coordinators and sales representatives that I got to work with.

• Connecting with other wedding planners

The wedding planning community in Winnipeg is very small.  I’m thankful for how supportive all the wedding planners are of each other.  Every planner brings their own style and flare to wedding planning.  It’s wonderful to have other planners that I trust and can refer couples to if I’m already booked.

• First time featured on a blog

Let’s just say I squealed at the top of my lungs when I was featured on Planners Lounge, Host Winnipeg, and Martha Stewart Weddings in 2016.

• I GOT ENGAGED!!!

When my fiancé got down on one knee, I received the most heartfelt and genuine surprise of my life.  My best friend and love of my life wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.  To top off the evening, he surprised me by hiring a professional photographer to capture our special moment and take photos of us for the rest of the night.

I’m so excited to plan my own wedding in 2017.  Once I find a venue that fits the personality of me and my fiancé, everything will come together beautifully.  Don’t you worry ladies, I will definitely have a day-of coordinator at my wedding.  I’m not lifting a finger on my big day!  I have just the girl in mind to help me out (wink wink).

Stay tuned to see more photos of my engagement!

I hope you all had the most wonderful year in 2016.  Time to pop some bottles and ring in the New Year with lots of love! <3

Photography: Victoria Anne Photography, Luxe Images by Jill, Sugar and Soul Photography

The First To-Dos, Before The I-Dos

Congratulations to all the beauties out there that just got engaged!  This is an exciting and special moment in your lives, make sure to take a step back and let it all soak in.  To keep this time as stress free as possible, here is a list of my top 5 to-dos, before the I-dos.  Follow these to-dos, and you will be well on your way to a relaxed wedding planning experience.

Budget

Budgeting can be tough, especially with so many ideas, pressures and opinions on what your wedding day should be.  Any experienced wedding planner will sit down with you before jumping in head first and create a detailed budget.  This will allow for your planner to refer vendors, venues and designs that are within your budget and avoid potential disappointment later on.  Everyone deserves the wedding day of their dreams, but let’s make sure you don’t go broke in the process.

Choose Your Venue

There are venues out there to fit any style and budget.  The one tricky thing with venues is that popular and trendy ones book up far in advance.  Create a list of both your top three venues and top three wedding dates.  This way you have some flexibility and a backup plan if your first choice is already booked.

PRO TIP: There are dozens of hidden gem venues that fly under the radar which can be both more affordable and flexible than the trendy venues of the moment. I recently had a friend tie the knot in a relatively unknown campground near Winnipeg and the pictures looked just as incredible as venues triple the price and the bride and groom could have their wedding on a prime weekend.

Hire a Wedding Planner

Hiring a planner early in the wedding planning process will take a lot of stress off your shoulders, keep the process organized and save you money in the long run.  As a wedding planner, three services I offer are full wedding planning, month of wedding coordination, and consultations.  Each services fits a certain client’s needs and budget.  For example, full wedding planning clients can expect;

• Monthly wedding consultations;
• Creation of a budget breakdown;
• Wedding design and inspiration;
• Vendor management;
• Creation of a day-of wedding timeline;
• Confirmation and coordination of details and logistics with vendors, ceremony speakers and other service providers;
• Collection of small décor for the wedding; and
• Coordination of your wedding rehearsal, ceremony and reception.

As a planner I have worked with a wide range of wedding vendors in the province and would be able to suggest venues, florists, bakeries, officiants, etc. to fit your budget and vision. When you work with an experienced planner, you can be rest assured that you are working with professional, pre-screened vendors who are reliable and affordable (never mind that some vendors often throw in little extras for a bride and groom when the booking is made through a planner they have worked with before).

Hire a Wedding Photographer

There is a wedding photographer out there to meet every style and personality.  Similar to wedding venues, great photographers book up far in advance.  This is why hiring a photographer is one of my top five to-dos before the I-dos.  Feeling stressed about how to pose and position yourself?  A great photographer will make you and your fiancé feel at ease and gently guide your through the photo process.

PRO TIP: In the past 4-5 years, many couples have began prioritizing wedding videos before wedding photos. While each come with their advantages and disadvantages, be warned that high quality videographers are far fewer in numbers than photographers and should ABSOLUTELY be booked early to avoid disappointment. While some photographers may claim to also be able to shoot video simultaneously, I highly recommend that you have a separate vendor for each service (I have unfortunately seen the results of a photographer trying to do both and neither product ended up being as good as it could be).

Choose your Bridal Party

Which best pals will you choose to have stand by your side on the wedding day?  Ignore the politics and pressure, think of who you are closest and trust most.  For some this is an easy decision, but for others can be difficult. If you are part of the latter group, don’t fret – not everyone has a rock solid group who are the automatic choice.  Regardless of your decision, everyone in your life will be happy and supportive on your wedding day.

Pro Tip: Wedding parties come in all numbers. I have seen as low as three and as many as seven. Also don’t forget your partners situation and their desires in filling out their roster.

Congratulations again on your recent engagement.  Happy planning!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANNING YOUR BACHELORETTE PARTY

Canadian Destination Weddings – Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb stole my heart, and I’m positive it will steal yours as well.  As an all season resort, Whistler Blackcomb is sure to enchant your guests at any time of year.  In the summer month’s, guests can enjoy mesmerizing views of the densely forested mountains, while in winter they are transported into a winter wonderland.  The landscape is an incredible sight, and create the perfect backdrop for a wedding or event.

What’s the best way to get to the top of a mountain?  Gondola of course!  Whistler Blackcomb resort is famously known for their Peak 2 Peak gondola, which connects passengers from Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain.  There are two segments of the gondola ride up to the peak of Whistler Mountain.  At the half way point, a server can hop onto the gondola and treat guests to hot hors d’oeurvres and champagne (approximately 15 minutes into the 30 minute ride).  A server can hop onto the gondola and serve treats and champagne.  Who wouldn’t want some bubbly while “flying” up the mountain?

Looking for an even more exclusive way to get up the mountain?  Private helicopters can be arranged to bring guests up to the wedding or for a tour around the surrounding area.  Helicopters add a little extra pop of excitement to your wedding day (and are sure to be talked about by your guests for months to come).  They can also be used to bring a bride and groom to a mountain peak for intimate sunset photos.  Now those would be some jaw dropping memories!

(Photo supplied by Whistler Blackcomb)

At the top of Whistler Mountain is the Roundhouse Lodge.  The lodge has many beautiful wedding ceremony and reception spaces each with a stunning mountain view.  These venues include the Glacier View Deck, Valley View Deck, Observation Deck, Valley View Room, Glacier Valley View, Steeps Restaurant, and Steeps Deck.

Each deck offers a one of a kind view of the surrounding mountains and quaint Whistler Village. The two indoor reception venues each offer a chic ski cabin feel and can accommodate up to 400 guests.  The Glacier Valley View Room offers magnificent floor to ceiling windows, using the mountain to create a natural backdrop.

(Photo supplied by Whistler Blackcomb)

Steeps Restaurant and Deck is a wonderful option for couples looking for a more intimate wedding.  The restaurant can hold up to 100 people and offers both plated and buffet dinner options.  The Steeps Deck is the only covered deck on Whistler Mountain.  Over the next year it will be undergoing extensive renovations to improve its all season capabilities.  Be sure to make the trip out to Whistler in 2018 to see the finished product.

(Photo supplied by Whistler Blackcomb)

Across the Peak 2 Peak gondola on Blackcomb Mountain is Christine’s Restaurant (a high end restaurant suitable for couples with the most discerning tastes). This restaurant offers a wonderful selection of food, drink, and a more modern feel compared to the previous venues on the mountain mentioned.  There are select wineries in British Columbia that exclusively sell their wine to Christine’s on Whistler Mountain.  This exclusivity shows how dedicated the restaurant staff are to creating the ultimate experience in luxury for their clients.  To all brides and grooms out there; when visiting Christine’s for a site visit, make sure to look around.  This restaurant is known for having celebrities stop by for a glass of wine or quick bite to eat.

(Photo supplied by Whistler Blackcomb)

Whistler Blackcomb resort offers wedding packages for every budget.  This is an excellent venue to consider getting married if you adore the mountains or would like to treat your guests to the ultimate mountain experience.

Sending my love to you and yours! <3