New Years Eve @ the Orpheum!

I remember going to the Orpheum theatre late last year to see Metric perform... walking in I said out loud to my husband "I would LOVE to do a wedding here!" About three days later I get a call from Angela Williamson who tells me she has booked her NYE wedding at the Orpheum & needs a coordinator. Thinking 'this must be fate' I met with Angela & groom Ryan where we instantly click and got right into the planning details. This was a wedding I will never forget. Not only was it a fabulous couple, but we had a great lineup of vendors and, well.. it was new years eve! What better way to ring in the New Year then by watching these two lovebirds confess their love for one another in front of their family & friends. Naomi from Mayan photography got some unbelievable shots. See more on our website: adaytoremember.ca

Wedding Party Responsibilities

This blog entry is, not only for the bride & groom, but also for maid of honours, best men, groomsmen & bridesmaids. Many of those who are asked to be in a wedding party have no idea what is expected of them. Some may have never even been to a wedding before, let alone in a wedding party. It is an honour to be asked to be stand up at the altar with the bride & groom,

but there is a bit of work included...

Prior to the wedding, it's at the discretion of the bride and groom as to how much they ask of their attendants. It's certainly a good idea to be mindful of your attendants' work and family commitments when requesting their help.

Many attendant responsibilities are based on tradition, but make individual requests based on what's most practical. If your maid of honor lives 300 miles away, for example, it may make more sense to ask a bridesmaid who lives nearby to join you as you shop for dresses or select flowers. Perhaps your maid of honor is a talented calligrapher who would rather address the wedding invitations -- a task she can certainly complete from her home.

Let common sense and consideration be your guide when asking for help. Your bridesmaid who's the mother of young children may welcome an excuse to get out and assist with some prewedding errands. Or she may be too overwhelmed to be of much help. You'll simply have to ask. Be sensitive to your bridal party's busy lives.

Most of the duties of attendants are performed the day of the wedding. As for the maid of honor and the best man, the primary responsibility of each is to be best friend and helper to the bride and groom on the day of the wedding -- from the moment the day starts to the time the newlyweds leave for their honeymoon. Their second responsibility is to make sure bridesmaids and ushers are where they should be.

Communicate regularly with your bridal party. It will help them all get to know each other -- if they don't already -- and will give them a sense of their responsibilities. Plus, it's a great way to stay organized. Email is a particularly useful tool for keeping far-flung attendants in the loop.

Traditional responsibilities of the maid of honour include:

• Helps the bride select bridesmaids' attire & wedding dress
• Helps address invitations and place cards
• Attends as many prenuptial events as possible
• May host a shower, but not mandatory
• Organizes bridesmaids' gift to the bride and usually gives an individual gift to the couple
• Pays for own wedding attire and transportation to wedding
• Attends the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Makes sure that all bridesmaids, flower girl, and ring bearer are at the rehearsal and the ceremony on time
• Walks in processional and recessional
• Holds the groom's wedding ring
• Helps with the bride's gown
• Arranges the bride's veil and train before the processional and recessional
• Makes sure the bride's gown is picture perfect throughout the day
• Holds the bride's bouquet during the ceremony
• Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate
• Stands in the receiving line
• Keeps the bride on schedule
• Helps the bride change into her going-away clothes
• Takes care of the bride's gown and accessories after the reception

The traditional duties of a bridesmaid include:

• Helps the bride and maid of honor
• Takes care of own dress and accessories fittings
• May help with a shower for the bride (optional)
• Assists the bride with errands
• Contributes to bridesmaids' gift to the bride and usually gives an individual gift to the couple
• Attends the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Arrives on time to get dressed for the wedding
• Walks in processional and recessional
• May participate in the receiving line
• Dances with ushers and other guests
• Helps gather guests for the first dance, cake cutting, and bouquet toss
• Helps look after the couple's elderly relatives or friends
• Pays for own dress and transportation to the wedding

The traditional duties of the best man include:

• Organizes any prewedding party for the groom
• Coordinates the ushers' gift to the groom and usually gives individual gift to the couple
• Attends the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Gets the groom dressed and to the ceremony on time
• Makes sure the groom has the marriage license with him at the ceremony
• Delivers any payment to officiant, sexton, and ceremony musicians, as prearranged
• Enters the sanctuary with the groom
• Holds the bride's wedding ring during the ceremony until the vows are spoken
• Makes sure all ushers are correctly dressed and in place on time
• Walks in recessional
• Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate
• Welcomes guests at the reception
• Offers first toast to bride and groom at the reception
• Dances with the bride, maid of honor, mothers, and guests
• Helps the groom get ready for the honeymoon
• Gathers up and takes care of the groom's wedding clothes after he changes
• Has a car ready for the bride and groom to leave the reception, or perhaps drives them to their next destination
• Pays for own wedding attire and transportation to the wedding

The traditional duties of an groomsman/usher include:

• Participates in the party for the groom if there is one
• Contributes to the ushers' gift for the groom and usually gives an individual gift to the couple
• Attends the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Makes sure that the people who are designated to receive special flowers or corsages do, if the flowers have not been delivered to the recipients beforehand
• Greets guests as they arrive
• Asks guests whether they'd like to be seated on the bride's side or the groom's side
• Follows any lists of guests who are to be seated in a specific pew
• Hands each guest a program when they're seated
• Puts the aisle runner in place after guests are seated before the processional begins
• Knows the order for seating of the couple's family members
• Directs guests to the reception site
• Looks after elderly guests
• Dances with bridesmaids and other guests at the reception
• Pays for own wedding attire and transportation to the wedding

Hastings House Country Estate: hidden gem for weddings.

As a favourite wedding venue on Salt Spring Island, Hastings House is a hotel that we just had to check out! A Day to Remember was graciously invited to spend a weekend at the hotel experiencing all the beauty, relaxation and art that Salt Spring Island has to offer.

Hastings House is an 18-room English-style Inn is right on Ganges Harbour and sits on a 22-acre property. It is known for its excellent gardens, fine food and wine in a quiet, natural setting. Each suite is uniquely designed, giving guests a truly individual experience and most have amazing ocean views. With such breathtaking views, it is no wonder Hastings House is a wedding favourite among couples. With the choice of distinctive indoor and outdoor wedding sites, Hastings House can host small intimate weddings for up to 60 guests.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by Hastings House manager Shirley McLaughlin who gave us a tour of the suites & property. Right away we were in awe at the serenity the property evokes. There is a spa on premise and the hotel can accommodate up to 48 people. Shirley set us up in a beautiful room called Manor East, which is a two room suite with ocean views and a wood-burning fireplace (which we just loved!) The bedroom was furnished with antique oak and the bed was so comfortable it was hard to get up in the morning! When we finally managed to, we were welcomed into the dining room for a fabulous breakfast before leaving the property to explore the island.

[view from our living room window]

While exploring the island we went up to Mount Maxwell for the stunning views of Vancouver Island, the surrounding Gulf Islands and the mainland of BC. We also visited Fulford Harbour where we found some great shops & cafés.

All the meals on the island were delicious (especially the crab!) Most of the food offered on the island is fresh, local, organic ingredients. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner with the Hastings House owners at their fine dining restaurant and the beef tenderloin was to die for! All in all, we discovered there is no better place to relax then this gorgeous island on the Gulf Islands. And we are looking forward to plan some amazing weddings at the beautiful Hastings House in Salt Spring Island.

Katie & Tyler

On August 22, 2009, you could feel the love as Katie & Tyler confessed their love for one another amongst their closest family & friends. The bride looked stunning and the wedding took place in her Aunt & Uncle's backyard at their beautiful Langley residence. Cora's Photography captured every moment perfectly & put together this beautiful slideshow: Click Here. The dinner tent was romantic & cozy with draping, orchids & linens while Sugar Mountain Catering delighted the guests with an amazing 4 course plated dinner. A clear top tent covered the dance floor showing off the starlite sky and their A Day to Remember DJ had the dance floor full all night long. We had an amazing time working with Katie & Tyler over the past year to create this fairytale wedding and we wish them a long & happy marriage!





Photos courtesy of Cora's Photography

More baby news!

We are excited to hear that one of our couples, Reesha & Will, are expecting a baby! We helped Reesha & Will with their wedding on July 25, 2009 and they were fabulous to work with.. we know they are going to be wonderful parents! Cheers to a happy & joyous future for them!

Jeffrey loves Kristie!

We just had to share this adorable video with you! This is from a wedding we coordinated on August 18, 2009 at the beautiful Brock House Restaurant. Both the bride & groom are actors and the groom surprised his new bride with a skit. He said he had found her diary and broke out into song during each entry. It is so cute & creative... we love it!

Is that a paper gown?

Believe it or not, it is a gown solely made out of paper!

Angela & Phu's Wedding

Another successful 2008 wedding... Angela & Phu! Married August 10, 2008 at Barnet Marine Park & Shiang Garden Restaurant. This gorgeous couple didn't miss a beat! We were happy to ensure their wedding was truly A Day to Remember...

Langis Photography captured every moment beautifully. Click here to see the slideshow.

Oana & Ian's Wedding

We recently came across some photo's from past clients Oana and Ian, who wed on August 30, 2008. Cora from Cora's Photography did a beautiful job capturing this fun wedding. We loved working with Oana and Ian and wish them much happiness!

Click here to see the slideshow

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Baby News!!

We love getting baby news from our previous clients!!!

Derek & Sandy McIver, whose wedding we planned back in June 2007 had a beautiful baby boy named Devon! He is absolutely adorable!

We also want to congratulate Mandy & Gary Shokar for the baby they have on the way! We had a great time planning their wedding in May 2008. All the best to them during this happy time!

Pink & Grey Image Consultants

We ran into the FABULOUS Giovanni Amenta at the Health & Wellness trade show this weekend. Not only is he fun and outgoing, but he is a certified Image Consultant and owns pinkandgrey.ca They do image consulting, personal shopping and style assessments. Something every girl needs!! If you want to find the most amazing wedding dress, bring him shopping. It's always hard to get an honest opinion from sales people, so Gio is just the guy for you! He will dazzle you with his charm and expertise..

Check him out at http://www.pinkandgrey.ca/
and... BE FABULOUS!