Luxurious & Signature Wedding Planning Blog in Toronto, Niagara & Worldwide.

Miami Chic & Super Sweet: Liz & Derrick

 Yesterday, Friday July 10, I had the honour of Coordinating the wedding of Liz & Derrick at Miller Lash House on the University of Toronto's Scarborough Campus. The bride had a vision of Miami Chic for her big day and decided to just go for it... my kinda girl!

The ceremony was a beauty with large vases on pillars filled with peony, spider mums and branches, orchids hanging from the arbour and rose petals all over the beautiful aisle. Guests were greeted with pink fans to match the bride's colours, bubbles and tissue for the emotional. The ceremony included both touching moments (sand ceremony for the couple and groom's son) and Jewish traditions for the Bride's family (breaking of the glass - Mazel Tov!).

 

 

Liz & Derrick beamed during the day with love and laughter. They were surrounded by those closest to them and couldn't have been happier. Together with the Groom's son they were the vision of a perfect family. It was a delight to see and be part of their joy!

The reception was stunning... marshmallow satin linen on square tables, Louis Ghost Chairs, triple centrepieces of white hydrangea, green spider mums, and pale pink peonies, Napkins in balmy turquoise, mokara orchids in fuschia to accent each placesetting, a custom lounge with pink and black pillows, uplighting in bright blues, a tent luxuriously draped in white with 6 chandaliers! Guests were wow'd by the setting and thrilled with the food... The couple are flavour fans and opted for having caterers, Daniel et Daniel, adding a little spice to everyone's life with spiced chicken or salmon for dinner and even small adobe spice rubs as favours for their guests!

 

 

 

 

Throughout the day the soundtrack was deejayed by the FAB-U-LOUS Michael Coombs from Prodigy Entertainment. His skills as MC warmed up the crowd and kept the party moving all night long. As always, he's a gift to clients and to Wedding Planners! Rock on Michael!

And of course, the day couldn't have been captured by anyone better than the lovely Linday Windebank from HRM Photography (photos coming soon).

 

 

A favourite piece of the couples day for me was the stunning 4-tiered wedding cake from cake diva Allyson Meredith from Allyson Meredith Cakes & the fabulous Bobbette & Belle! A masterpiece in white this cake sparkled and shone as a beautiful showpiece... and the best kind... edible and delicious showpiece!

 

A touching first dance, emotional parent dances and a rousing round of the Horrah capped off the evenings festivities.

In the end, the couple had the Miami Chic & Oh So Sweet wedding day of their dreams. Congratulations to the now-official family... may your love story only get better!

Mazel Tov! Cheers!

Suave Sophistication ~ Hicham & Jim

Last Saturday marked a very pivotal moment in two lives. Hicham and Jim were wed after eight years of un-wedded bliss in a simple, suave, sophisticated and utterly romantic ceremony at Sassafraz's Yorkville restaurant.

I have to say, this wedding, may also be a most cherished moment in my life.

I had the pure joy of meeting Hicham and Jim four months ago when they approached me to plan their soiree in a very short time frame. They wanted charm, they wanted elegance, they wanted their personalities and most of all their relationships to be the glue of their celebration. I couldn't wait to get started!

From the very beginning we discussed colour.... bold reds and clean whites were to be the palette with some touches of black to set it all off. They didn't want a boring contrite wedding day. These men wanted heartfelt, romantic and extremely personal. Step one, for me, was getting to know them...

Over a routine taste test at their chosen venue we dined on what would become their wedding meal including a host of entrees, appetizers, desserts and yes... wine! What was most memorable however wasn't the palette but the people... Hicham & Jim really opened up and told me, in their own words, their own love story. Everyone has one if you stop to listen long enough and I was honoured they shared theirs with me. Armed with enough information to create a lifetime of parties for these two lovebirds I was struck by how overwhelming their love for one another felt. I deal with couples daily, some newly engaged, some longtime engaged, some tying the knot that very day or even re-tying the knot but something here struck a cord. It's love, pure, simple and true at it's core. These men with a look make each other melt and let me just say... it was magical!

So, tried and true love does not deserve an ordinary celebration and we aimed to please. We started the celebration off right with pre-ceremony cocktails of champagne and raspberries transitioning slowly into a wedding ceremony. The ceremony was custom designed with the help of Officiant, Jeremy Citron, and included readings from Jim's family, including a very special tribute from his daughter that didn't leave a dry eye in the room (including my very own)! Guests gathered around them, we did no seating. It was a very big circle of love and you could feel it all around. The Grooms proudly exchanged rings and I couldn't help but share Hicham's BLING... I think I was jealous... Chanel & diamonds *sigh*

 

 

After the ceremony guests congratulated the happy couple before entering a red & white world for the reception. Nicole North from Petals, Stems & Leaves, created a vivid world of masculine artistic floral compositions imbedded on each table. Silver containers overflowed roses, dahlias, anthurium and oncidium orchids floating on twisted wire frames between centrepieces. Each guest was greeted by a bold red water goblet and custom menu to order from. The Grooms' placesettings were each marked with roses & floating orchids on their napkins as the place of honour.

 

 

 

As gracious as ever a couple were, Jim & Hicham began the dinner by personally toasting their guests and each other. This started a whirlwind of speeches and toasts lovingly given by guests so moved by the wedding they just couldn't help themselves! Even to an outsider it was hard not to get wrapped up, dragged in, and desiring to hear more.

Dinner was a fanciful collection of scrumptious food! Salads, soups, beef tenderloin, salmon, moroccan chicken, mushroom risottos, lemon curd and chocolate prevailed. Not a bottle of bubbly was missed or a crumb of dessert not devoured.

 

And then, the entertainment... Anuka from Mirage Bellydance wow'ed guests as a surprise tribute to Hicham's Moroccan heritage. This confident Groom even got up to show this seasoned dancer a few moves and wow did it take off! All of a sudden all 55 guests were on the floor sharing their skills! It was a wedding on fire and at the heart of it none burned brighter than Hicham & Jim.

 

Ending dinner with a special surprise from yours truly was a cake... a perfect replica of a rose made in paperthin fondant icing for the Grooms. Konstadin from Cakes by Konstadin worked closely with me to make sure the look, the feel, the essence of the wedding was just right with this custom cake and they couldn't have got it more right. The stunned grooms were overwhelmed and thrilled with their special surprise.

 

  

I have to also do a shout out here to the amazing photography duo - Erika & Ryan from Rowell Photography who PERFECTLY captured the essence of this wedding. You did an amazing job... as always!!!

In the end, surrounded by family, friends and each other, Hicham and Jim made a commitment to the world - to live, to love and to always be hand in hand together. To a couple that made me not only believe but see that true love is possible... thank you from the bottom of my heart. May you love for the rest of your lives as much as you did today...

To Hicham & Jim!

At Home... Receptions! Judith & Jeff

Couples planning to go away for their nuptials are becoming more and more popular! A chance to have your wedding, sand, sun, surf or mountaintop is appealing to modern couples on many different levels. One such couple was Judith & Jeff, who many may remember from their nuptials this past April in the Dominican Republic! 

In celebration of their day and for family and friends who couldn't make the trip a second reception was planned for June 29, 2009 at the Waterfront Bistro in Pickering. This fun and informal affair included a showing of their wedding video, picture slideshows, appetizers, champagne toast, a recreated wedding cake, favours of homemade spice rub, the couple in their wedding attire and a second First Dance! Here's a quick snapshot from the festivities! Congratulations again!

 

Beachfront Garden Party Soiree ~ Saskia & Dwight

The sweetest, kindest, most sincere woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting has to be Saskia. This woman has had her ups and downs but has forged a bright new future with her four children, new husband Dwight and his son! This is truly a beautiful family, a truly touching love story and what we all here at Distinct Occasions know will only be the start of a very happy beginning for this truly wonderful family!

Saskia and I first met a few months ago as the Bride was feeling overwhelmed with options and wanting planning advice, guidance and someone with an eye for design! Unfortunately, I was already booked for her wedding date (June 27, 2009) but Lead Coordination & Wedding Planner Extraordinaire Antonella Bifano from the Distinct Occasions team was still available and very happily hopped on board to help make Saskia's dreams for a vintage shabby chic garden wedding a reality!

So with months of planning behind them, between Saskia, Antonella and a lil wisdom from yours truly, we celebrated Saskia & Dwights big day! The ceremony took place at a gorgeous old church in Toronto's west end Beaches district. As a special and very dear gesture, Saskia's oldest son, walked her down the aisle as all of her children gave her away with their love to her love, Dwight. The touching ceremony was followed by a simple and satisfying assortment of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres prepared by J Anthony Catering.

 

Meandering through this beautiful local area of the city, guests were delighted to see many of the Bride's vendors shops as they strolled about time in between ceremony & reception! We wanted to keep vendors as local, seasonal, organic and unique as possible! The Bride & Groom opted to use the Bride's Beaches home as the setting for their reception with a marquee placed in her beautiful gardens below and facing one of the cities most stunning beaches! What transpired was a wedding filled with personal touches and delightful in it's mismatched yet collectively gorgeous array of pink and white peony, fresh garden florals (handpicked that day from the surroundings), vases shaped like birds, family heirlooms of teapots and silver overfilling with florals, and an array of candles both votives, hurricanes, tapers and candelabra amidst each tables unique theme. The simple square head table sat at the far end of the tent framed beautifully by views of the private beachfront behind the couple!

 

 

 

With each table it's own array of shabby chic there was so much to look at that each table and each new item became a delight for the senses. Even the couple's dog got into the act with his very own rose collar made specially for the party!

 

 

The most touching part of the day had to come at the reception when all of the couples children got up to thank their parents and welcome their new families. Each speech was heartfelt, heartwarming, and there wasn't a dry eye in the place! Even yours truly weeped a little bit with all this amazing love in the tent!!!

 

The incredible dinner was put together and created from scratch by caterers J Anthony Catering and featured a bitter green salad with pears, tomatoes and ginger raspberry vinaigrette, a mouthwatering and succulent grilled flat iron steak and the most incredible homemade lemon tarts with fruit coulis and chantilly cream! It was the perfect meal for this casual couples home based outdoor soiree!

The couples cake was infact cupcakes from local cupcakery Life Is Sweet and featured multi-tonal sweet treats in mini size of vanilla and chocolate with white sparkles, pink petals, baby yellow swirls and green frosted toppings. They tasted even better than they looked!

 

For Saskia & Dwight the day was everything they could have hoped. Their dream of an intimate family celebration at their home surrounded by their loved ones was complete. We're just delighted that they chose us to help pull it all together!



Congratulations Saskia & Dwight!

Eat, Drink & Be Married ~ Samantha & Jeff

 Bubbly, ambitious and a little OCD like myself is our beautiful bride, Samantha. Upon our very first meeting she informed me of her and Jeff's plans for a very chic, suave and super sweet brunch celebration at Sunnybrook Estates, McLean House for 65 of their nearest and dearest! I was in awe - this was a girl after my own heart - not stuffy, not uber-traditional... a passion for fashion and an eye for design this girl was a dream to work with!

So, that's how it came to be that on June 27, 2009 Distinct Occasions ended up coordinating the beautiful nuptials of Samantha & Jeff.

The day began with a flurry of activity - 21 pastel pink pompoms to be hung from the backyard patio awning, ribbons and orchids from the trees, buckets over brimming with pink and white peonies, custom placecards with unique buttons for each guest based on their personality and homemade sweet marie bars made by the Groom's talented mom! This was a pink punch wedding that left guests giddy all day long!

 

 
 

Casual and cozy the wedding itself took place on the back lawn of the McLean House in a bounty of sunshine that left everyone smiling. The bride looked radiant in her cocktail length gown and Christian Laboutin heels in pale pink and swarovski crystals! She celebrated in style with a bouquet of oversized white peonies wrapped in white ribbon and embellished with a button that read "I love you more than stinky cheese"... if that isn't love; I don't know what is!

 

Not to be outdone, the bridesmaids glittered in silvers and carried simple yet chic bouquets of baby's breathe wrapped in fuschia ribbon and adorned with buttons reading "Maid of Honour" or "Bridesmaid". The Groom was dapper and sweet in his fuschia pink tie and matching pocket square with a baby white peony boutonnierre. And Groomsmen followed suit matching the Groom but all in black ties and baby's breathe bouttonierres!

 

I have to say... Samantha even made me a bit giddy with her next surprise... while putting out custom designed buttons for guests a "Wedding Planner" button was found made just for me! I was delighted and honoured wearing it proudly as my very own corsage all afternoon! Thanks so much, Samantha & Jeff!

During cocktails, guests mingled with pink punch, gossiped amongst more lush peony arrangements and smiled big at our custom guestbook done with polaroids to "capture the moment". This sweet bride & groom even went so far as making sure each of their vendors (photographers, band and us) got into their guestbook with polaroid snaps!

 

So the scene was set and the party begun, tables were decorated with 30 macaron's per table piled on gorgeous glass cake stands, votives overfilled with lush peony and placesettings adorned with custom designed wedding crosswords (& pencils), and Love Is Sweet bags to take away the sweet goodies adorning the table!

 

Guests literally feasted on brunch of smoked honey ham, made-to-order omelettes, salads, french toast, fresh fruit, cupcakes, ice cream and a bevvy of other options.

Another gorgeous feature at this wedding was the cake made by a guest at the wedding specially for the occasion! A three-tiered cake topped with butterflies in every colour wowed guests and even had me smiling at how stunning it was (delicious too)!

So the wedding was a success! Samantha & Jeff were giddy and joyous as they departed their brunch to the live band sound of "When The Saints Go Marchin In"! For this couple it was a day to celebrate family, friends and a 7.5 yr relationship that couldn't be celebrated any better than to... eat, drink and be married!

Congratulations Samantha & Jeff!