Seriously?

O.K....this may not inspire your event, but can you imagine spending $1 million dollars on a ring? Well, imagine and dream yes, but who really would? Well you're looking at it! What do you think my chances are of convincing Hilary Duff to spend $1 million on her wedding stationery using RWDesign.ca???

Ottawa Wedding Show

If you are or know someone who is planning their wedding, don't miss the Ottawa Wedding Show at Lansdown Park this weekend (March 6th and 7th). Admission is free. What I love about this show is all the ideas you can gather, from table settings to colour combinations. I will not be showcasing at this show, but do contact me if you have any stationery questions...I would be happy to help! renee@rwdesign.ca Their website is: www.ottawaweddingshow.com

Think about your Postage Stamps

You can't go through the trouble of ordering beautiful stationery for your event and then stick any old stamp on the envelope. Canada Post offers many options of images on stamps, however, the most beautiful come from their "Definitives: Flowers" series. This season it features four Canadian Orchids: the Striped Coralroot, Giant Helleborine, Rose Pogonia and Grass Pink. Be sure to ask for these stamps, or go ahead and order them online. They are at no extra cost! Visit: www.http://www.canadapost.ca/shop/personal/postage/domestic/definitives-flowers/p-101346X.jsf

Great Venue in Toronto

I went to a Stag & Doe type reception for a couple who are having a destination wedding and wanted to celebrate with friends and family before they leave. They held this event at Andrew Richard Designs in the Distillery District of downtown Toronto. What an incredible place! The main floor of the building is the showroom for their gorgeous and upscale outdoor furniture, while the upstairs is a white loft area ready to be set up for any event. They use their own outdoor furniture to decorate and accomodate your event and the end result is super chic! Check out these pictures and the website for more ideas. www.ardevents.ca

Show Success

I had a great time at the Manor Bridal Show today and really enjoyed meeting brides and grooms of all ages! (Check out the beautiful face I am making as I speak with a potential client!) This was a great learning experience for me - I was asked many different questions about what can be done and find it so interesting to hear the plans of these couples for their BIG day. There is really such a desire to have the most individual and unique event for your guests...to be so "UNlike" anyone else. The challenge for me is having samples that meet ALL of their visions!

I also got to chat with some incredible vendors: Check out www.essencecatering.ca the site of Chef Jason & Kelly...not only was their food enticing to the eyes, but tasted divine! Both Jason and Kelly were so down-to-earth and super easy to talk to. If only I could go back and get married again!

Check out www.wedecor.ca who had set up an exquisite candy bar, www.scottphotography.ca featured tonnes of stunning work and of course www.crazy4chocolate.ca had Sue offering tastes of her delectable truffles to the newly engaged (and any begging vendors too!).

Getting ready for the show

I am super excited about The Manor Bridal Show this Sunday, so I am busy getting my samples together and attempting some creative new pieces! The challenge with custom-made stationery is knowing what potential brides are looking for; so I've put together a little bit of everything from natural-looking earthy tones to bright and funky colours and textures. Check out a few pictures...I'll leave the rest a surprise for now! See you at The Keg Manor: 529 Richmond Rd between 9am and 3pm.

A MUST READ...

When planning my own wedding, I received this book as a gift from my mother (and I'm wondering now if I should take offence?!!!!) The book is called “Wedding Etiquette Hell: The Bride's Bible to Avoiding Everlasting Damnation” written by event consultant and etiquette blogger Jeanne Hamilton. In my opinion, it is the perfect blend of fiction and real-life events that will have you either gasping or ROTFL! Hamilton uses some fictional characters, such as newly engaged “Brideweena” and her wedding planner “Miss Jeanne” (I wonder who this is) to walk the reader through many etiquette-related questions. From invitations and engagement parties, to showers and registries; the book is filled with tacky and unbelievably true stories that she has accumulated through her own etiquette website. Would you believe that one guest wrote about a bride that insisted on having three engagement parties, four showers, and a gift opening celebration after the wedding and sent invitations with her registry information to the same people for each event? I guess that is one way to ensure you complete your registry!!! A great read for brides, bridesmaids, moms and anyone involved in the event planning – just don't give it as a shower gift!