Happy Friday Readers!

Today we have a bunch of stunning photos to share with you that are near and dear to our hearts. They are a result of a photo shoot we did for an ad in Wedding Bells Magazine. Look for us in the upcoming Fall/Winter issue on stands in July.

A very talented group of ladies came together to make this shoot possible including Alex Lee of Young Hearts Photography www.younghearts.ca and Ashley Readings from Bridal Make-up Toronto www.bridalmakeuptoronto.com, who made each and every one of our brides blushing and beautiful. Not to mention, we had some stunning models to boot.

If you recognize the beautiful backdrop and scenery, it is the Miller Lash House www.millerlashhouse.ca.  Thanks to Tammy for opening her second home to us. 

We hope you enjoy this sneak peek.  In the upcoming weeks, check out our website http://www.gushevents.ca/gallery.html for the entire shoot.

Happy Monday All!

Today I thought I would share with you some of some of our favourite unique flowers to use for your next floral arrangement, party or wedding.

You may have seen some of these flowers captured in bridal magazines, surfing the web or on some of our favourite wedding blogs but may not have known there specific names or more importantly, when they are seasonal.  Here’s the scoop..

Anemone:

Typically found in spring but are known to be available in florist shops from November through June.  Thought to bring luck and protect against evil, legend has it that when the anemone closes its petals, it’s a signal that rain is approaching

Cabbage Roses:

Available year-round, these large, fluffy blooms are the perfect stand-in for a bride who is set on having peonies in her wedding day florals.  Also known for there strong floral scent and the price is right, too!

Kangaroo Paw:

The Kangaroo paw is a unique flower, the name comes from the fact that it does actually look like a Kangaroo paw.  Originates in Western Australia but can be found available in Canada May through to November.

Spider Mums:

Spider mums regularly make appearances in wedding bouquets due to their unusual petals and bright colors. In wedding bouquets, spider mums mean liveliness, and if they’re white, they also mean purity and truth.  Available all year round.

Ranunculus:

Typically available in the spring, Ranunculus symbolizes radiant charm.  It conveys a message that you are radiant with charm or you are attractive.  Comes in lots of bright cheerful colours!

Protea:

Found in South Africa this flower is known as a flowering plant and has the largest flower head.  The Protea stands for change and transformation. It signifies daring and resourcefulness. It is symbolic of diversity and change. 

What flowers do you love?

Have a great day!

Photos courtesy of google images.

It is a beautiful spring day, perfect for sitting back, putting your feet up and browsing through our favourite finds that we have stumbled upon the last few weeks.

We recently did a blog on incorporating balloons into your wedding.  Balloons sometimes get stuck with the stigma that they are cheap and just plain wrong for “elegant” occasions; however if you use them right, it can take your wedding or event to the next level.  This couple not only used them as a decor element but they also did double duty as table numbers and a ceremony backdrop. The balloons create a very whimsical setting and are super cute!

We at Gush loooooove DIY projects.  We happened to come across this pretty lace applique vase on Pinterest. Wrap a mason jar in some lace that you love and spray paint over the lace in your favourite colour and you’re done!   It is a gorgeous vase for your floral arrangements or would look stunning as a candle holder.

If you are a girly girl who loves ruffles and bows, this one is for you. Check out this adorable bow napkin fold. How stunning would that look on all of your guests’ plates?

Looking for a unique shower, engagement party or wedding favour? These cupcakes in a jar are just the thing and are easy peasy.  Simply alternate layers of cake, icing, and sprinkles in a mason jar and you have a delicious masterpiece that your guests will love.

And last, but certainly not least, gold silverware!  Gold is coming back with a vengeance and no wonder when it looks this good!

Have a great weekend!!!

Photos courtesy of 100 Layer Cake http://www.100layercake.com/blog/ & Pinterest.

Ashley and Christian wed on Saturday April 28, 2012 at the Capitol Event theater in Toronto. It was a beautiful sunny spring day filled with lots of love, laughter and one heck of a good party.  We will be sharing with you all gorgeous details that made their day so special in the upcoming weeks but for now here is a little sneak peek!

Pictures were captured by the ever so talented photographer Bryan of Bryan Caporicci Photography.

Are you acting like a control freak; demanding outrageous things from your vendors, family and friends; having wild mood swings; forgetting your manners and general etiquette? If you answered yes to any of these, you may be showing signs and symptoms of a Bridezilla.  Take this quiz, courtesy of The Knot, to find out the truth. 

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-quiz/quizzes/are-you-a-bridezilla.aspx?MsdVisit=1

If all signs point to yes, there is still hope.  Now that you are aware of your neurotic, crazy behavior, tone it down a bit.  Although your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, you need to remember the important part is that you and your groom are going to become husband and wife surrounded by your close family and friends.  There is no need to ruin lives in the process.

Should you feel another Bridezilla moment coming on, take a deep breath and find your happy place.  Remember, your friends and family are your support system and the professionals are there to help. Everyone wants your day to be perfect, just like you

Today we are going to provide you with some tips for working with your vendors to ensure that everyone has a good experience and why considering their needs will benefit YOU on your wedding day.

Scheduling:

Include your vendors when finalizing your time-line for the day.  It is essential for everyone to be on the same page in order for your wedding day to go according to plan.  Your vendors will appreciate the heads up to know when and where they are expected to be.  This is especially key for your photographers and cinematographers to ensure that they are present to capture all those significant moments.

Set Expectations:

If there are specific duties that you are anticipating that your vendors will do on the day of your wedding make sure that you have those conversations prior to the event to ensure that they are prepared.  Surprises can be deadly for your vendors, especially last minute.  The last thing that they will want to do is disappoint the happy couple on their big day.  It is also important to have these discussions early in the planning process as special requests should be documented in your contract.

Ask Their Opinion:

Most professional wedding vendors have been in this business for a good amount of time and therefore have a lot of experience to draw on, so why not ask them their opinion.  In fact, they will be delighted to share their tips, tricks and ideas for your big day.  Be sure to include them when it comes time to schedule aspects of the day that involve them so that they can assist you in making decisions and perhaps provide some suggestions along the way.

Provide a Meal:

A lot of your key vendors work a very long hours on the day of your wedding.  Show that you appreciate their time and efforts by providing a meal for them.  Now this is not to say that you have to feed everyone who is involved in your day but recognize those who may not have the time to step away for a bite to eat like your photographers, cinematographers, wedding planners and entertainers.  It is extremely difficult for them to do their job if they are not present!

Show your Appreciation:

Following the wedding send your vendors a thank you note of appreciation (for a job well done of course).  A thank you can go a long way not to mention a lot of vendors rely on testimonials for their website, Facebook page or even for client referrals.

These are relatively easy tasks that will go along way for both you and your vendors on your big day.  Follow these simple steps and your wedding will be a shoe-in for success!

Photo courtesy of: google images.

Looking for a fun and whimsical way to add a little something to your engagement, wedding or event?  Why not opt for balloons!  This is a trend that has grown rapidly since its emergence on the wedding scene and we are loving it! 

I don’t know about you but I think there is something so utterly romantic and yet so simple about using balloons.  Not to mention the endless photo opportunities.  Balloons add a great splash of colour, convey playfulness and there is no doubt about it, they put a smile on your face!  What’s not to like?

 Different ways you can incorporate balloons are:

 Engagement Photos….

 Wedding Photos…

Group Shots….

And Balloon releases….

Photos courtesy of: Wedding Bee, Green Wedding Shoes, Ruffled, Heart Love Weddings, Once Wed and The White Library.

Happy Friday Readers!

We are going to wrap up the week with a cute and cuddly post on how to incorporate your fur babies into your wedding day.  Animal lovers will agree that pets are considered a part of the family, so why wouldn’t you want them to have a role in your wedding just like everyone else near and dear to your heart?

If your canine companion is relatively obedient it is always a nice touch to include them in the ceremony itself.  There are a few roles they can play including ring bearer or groomsmen/bridesmaid.  You are sure to get oohs and aahs from your guest when they see your dog making its way down the aisle. If you think it is going to be too difficult to include them in the ceremony, you may still choose to have them on hand for a few photos.  How can you resist?  

Should you give your dog the role of ring bearer, you want to be sure the rings are securely fastened to the ring pillow and the pillow is well secured to your pet.  It is probably best to have the ring pillow tied to your pets back like a harness versus them carrying it in their mouths.  God forbid if he or she gets hungry!

If you are having your furry friend stand up next to you or your groom as a bridesmaid or groomsmen, be sure to put someone in charge of them in case they have a mind of their own on your wedding day.  That way if they decide to act out during the ceremony, someone is on hand to take control and you don’t have to worry about a thing.

If you don’t think your dog can make it all the way down the aisle without getting distracted, practice, practice, practice!  Or opt for putting them in a wagon and having another member of the bridal party bring them down the aisle.

Don’t forget your dog needs to look the part too!  There are a number of retail and online pet boutiques that carry wedding attire for pets. If you can’t find the right size outfit or one that matches your vision, improvise with flowers, ribbon, lace or tulle to create the perfect ensemble.

If it is extremely important that your dog be a part of your big day, be sure to ask your ceremony and reception venues their pet policy before you sign on the dotted line.   The odds are your furry friend will have to make a grand exit following the ceremony since food will be served.  And be sure you have someone lined up to pick up and take care of your pet when it is time for him to say farewell.

Have a wonderful weekend.

This past weekend I attended my good pal Christine’s baby shower.  It was was a Rubber Ducky theme in honour of their soon to be baby boy.  The host of the shower asked if  I could assist with the desserts, a task which I delightedly accepted.

Instead of a traditional cake I opted for cupcakes and cake pops, which were a huge hit!

The cupcakes were made from scratch by yours truly and the personalized toppers were designed by Kristy of Posh Pixel Studio: http://poshpixelsdesignstudio.com/thestudio/

See the template created by Posh Pixels here: christine_may-rubber_ducky-party_circles-1

I used a 2.5 inch Recollections craft punch to create a fancy edge and then fixed two of them together with some craft glue and a toothpick to create a unique cupcake topper.

The adorable themed cake pops were courtesy of the ever talented Robin from Lottie and Lil: http://www.lottieandlil.com/

Robin created a mixture of chocolate and vanilla pops in white and blue, as well as little yellow duck cake cops, which were almost too cute to eat.

Isn’t Christine just glowing?  It was a beautiful day for a gorgeous mommy to-be!  We can’t wait to meet you little Benny boy.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day. So to ensure you do, follow these simple tricks in the weeks leading up to your big day, and you will be the blushing bride you have always dreamed of.

1. Get lots of sleep.  Experts say you need between 7.5 and 9 hours of beauty rest to be at your best and a blushing bride.

2. Eliminate sugar, carbs and carbonated beverages to keep bloating to a minimum.  

3. Want a healthy bronzed glow?  Use a bronzer versus going to the tanning salon.  The last thing you want to be on your wedding day is orange.  Bobby Brown, Clinique and Mac have a line of bronzers that will give you the sun kissed glow you are looking for.  

4. A few weeks leading up to your wedding, avoid drinking dark beverages such as red wine, coffee and pop and eating foods such as blueberries and cherries that will stain your teeth.  Start using a whitening toothpaste or better yet purchase a whitening kit at your local drug store for even faster results.

5. To be blemish free on your big day, consider using a face wash with 2% salicylic acid, which is known to unclogs pores and get rid of blackheads. Make sure to also apply an oil free face cream to keep your skin moisturized but not greasy.   

6. And last but not least get a massage so you not only look relaxed but feel it too!

If you follow these easy tips you are sure to be stunning from head to toe.

Photos courtesy of www.marthastewart.com