Vibrant, colourful flowers can have a huge impact on your wedding and will not only compliment your bridal gown, bridesmaid’s dresses and décor, but also transform the atmosphere of your entire wedding day.  Whether you want to walk down the aisle clutching a colourful handtied bouquet of mango and yellow calla lilies or a posy of lusciously deep red black baccara roses, it’s vital that you choose colours that will suit the style of your day.

If you have dark skin or hair, rich red and plum tones will look great with your colouring, so why not incorporate flowers such as burgundy roses, or deep plum anemones or calla lilies.  If you have light hair or fair skin, chose softer colours such as pastel pink peonies or cream lisianthus to really make sure that you shine.

Innocent and elegant, there’s a gorgeous white flower that will suit every brides fancy.  Beautiful white flowers have been the most popular bridal choice for decades and continue to be chosen to this very day.  It’s easy to understand why, symbolizing purity, most women today simply love the idea of carrying the classic white blooms.  There are stunning white flowers available in every season each of which are very adaptable to the style of your wedding, from a lavish affair, to a smaller more intimate gathering or a wedding with a contemporary twist – white flowers have a timeless element to them and never look out of place.  Whether you’ve selected a classic round arrangement with white or cream roses, a modern display of white calla lilies placed simply in a vase, or a grouping of white hydrangea – the beauty of white flowers is that they have maximum impact, meaning you can achieve stunning results what ever your budget.

Delicate pastel pinks can soften any spring day, whether it is with the use of cotton candy coloured hyacinths, or lusciously full Esperance roses.  There is a rainbow of sweet pink hues that will spell passion for any wedding day.  You can make an eclectic statement with the artistic use of green celosia, pale green roses and deeper green cymbidium orchids giving your arrangements a modern edge.  Using shades of one colour adds depth and character and gives the feeling of layers to each piece.

Bolder blooms such as flowers in stunning shades of coral, orange and yellow are sure to be remembered.  Using flowers such as the Marianna roses, craspedia and Oncidium orchids, are sure to bring that extra burst of sunshine to your summer wedding.

If you’re feeling a little confused with all of the selections available for today’s bride, let the market guide your selections and let nature help you to make your choices for you.  Remember that choosing seasonal flowers not only ensures that you are getting the flowers in their optimal condition, but it’s also a way to maximize your budget and stretch that wedding dollar a bit further.

Another great way to help decide what colour scheme to select is to look at your venue for inspiration.  Choose colours that will compliment your surroundings.  For wood paneled rooms, use warm tones of rich reds, burnt oranges or deep purples with gold highlights.  For lighter spaces, choose a paler palette of pretty pastels, cool whites or rich creams with silver or gold accents.  Selecting a Florist with knowledge and familiarity of your venue will help to ensure that the choices that you’ve made for colour are going to coordinate throughout your entire day.

From the timeless red rose, to the modern and contemporary white calla lily, every flower has a voice.  Allow the wedding experts at Dizennio Floral to help you speak your style with a colour scheme that expresses your true self.  Call us for your complimentary consultation at (905) 303.6656 or visit our online gallery at www.dizenniofloral.com.

Written by: Rosanne Farano-Romanino

Dizennio Floral

Unsure of who, what, where and how many?  Don’t panic – this guide will help to make planning your wedding flowers a breeze.  There are a number of basic principles that you must take into account when putting together the details for what flowers you will need on your wedding day.

Bride: Gone are the days when brides carry a simple bouquet of white flowers up the aisle.  Nowadays, you can carry just about anything you please – from a showering of colourful orchids, to a trailing calla lily bouquet, to just a few simple flowers put together in a handtied bouquet.  Just ensure that your bouquet is always the showcase of the day and that it’s extra special, just like the bride!  There are three F’s that you should keep in mind when making the selection for your bridal bouquet; Foliage, Filler & Focus.  The focus is your main bloom, such as calla lilies, orchids, white roses, and so on, the filler will be the secondary blooms that harmonize with your main flower, and the foliage is the greenery (can be darker or lighter in shade) that completes the bouquet and is the finishing touch that will bring your whole look together.

Groom:  Traditionally, the groom wears a boutonniere on his left lapel and the bloom tends to match or correspond in some way to the flowers that the bride is carrying in her bouquet.  But if the groom has something different in mind, this can be any flower of his choice – if this is the case, simply try to maintain a specific colour theme with the bridal flowers.

Bridesmaids:  Typically the bridesmaids will carry a bouquet that is smaller in size than bridal bouquet but is made up of blooms that compliment the bride’s own selections.  This can be carried out by using similar colours as the bride or by selecting one or two distinctive blooms from the bridal bouquet – this maintains a different look for the bride, all the while making the bridesmaids’ flowers similar and carries a theme throughout the bouquets.

Bestman, Groomsmen & Ring Bearer:  The gentlemen of the wedding party also wear boutonnieres on their left lapel, they should also correspond either in bloom selection or colour to their partner’s flowers.

Flower Girl:  Depending on her age, she may carry a basket filled with fresh flowers, a basket filled with fresh rose petals to toss, a flower wand, or perhaps a miniature floral pomander made up of either fresh flowers or for a lighter weight arrangement that is still very pretty, a silk floral pomander.  Sometimes silk flowers are used to create arrangements for younger children as they are easier to hold and are much more durable than fresh flowers.

Family and Attendants:  The flowers selected for these corsages and boutonnieres should also match the wedding theme either in bloom or in terms of their colour.  These days we often see the mother’s of the brides carrying a small bouquet of blooms that have been selected and used throughout the entire wedding day.

Ceremony Arrangements:  There are no rules for this, but many couples opt to use pedestal and urns, or columns or tall glass vases with a floral arrangement of mixed flowers in the colour scheme that corresponds with their entire wedding.  These pieces can be used at the front of the altar flanking on either side be it at a church or synagogue, hotel venue.  You may also have arrangements of a few flowers on each pew and can use an aisle runner to give the ceremony venue a polished look as the bride walks up the aisle.

Reception Arrangements:  Many couples arrange for their ceremony pieces to be transferred to the reception venue, this will help to save you money.  In addition, it’s traditional to have large pieces that flank either side of the head table or these pieces can be used to decorate the entrance to the main room at your venue.

Centerpieces:  The guest tables’ pieces are a very important element of the wedding reception, these can vary from the traditional candelabra with flowers, to a more modern style vase with flowers or perhaps an arrangement that contains flowers and a culinary twist using seasonal fruits and berries for that extra special touch.  Your Florist will guide you in the right direction when in comes to selecting the style of arrangements that will set the tone and create the perfect ambiance for your wedding.

Always keep in mind that selecting seasonal flowers is ideal because it will help to keep your costs down, and certain flowers always look their best when they are grown during very specific times of the year.  For more great ideas on Wedding Flowers call Dizennio Floral for a complimentary consultation at (905) 303.6656 and visit our online gallery at www.dizenniofloral.com.

If you are looking for more than the ordinary, our goal is to make your vision become a reality. We welcome the opportunity to assist you in creating you true sense of style.

The initial meeting is a free one-on-one with us to discuss your wishes, dreams and ideas for your wedding day. We will help you to determine which package is best for you.  We offer four wedding decor packages, Gold, Diamond, Platinum and Crystal Jewel Bling. All packages include a FREE initial no obligation meeting to discuss how we can assist you on your special day. Packages starting at $750

Custom packages are also available.

Your Love    Your Dreams    Our Passion

Expect To Be Impressed…

Only the Best Will Do

Just For You Weddings & Events

Wanda Sparling-Corbett, decorator and planner WPICC

Thank you Wanda for your tips.

1)  Headcount - If you have invited 150 guests, you may not need to purchase a cake that feeds 150 people as there might be a plated dessert that comes with the meal and/or an elaborate sweet table to follow after the dinner.  In general, I would recommend couples to get a cake that feeds 80-100% of the headcount if the cake will be the main dessert.  If a lavish sweet table has been planned, a cake that feeds 60% of your headcount would be more than sufficient.

2)  Design - Any design that involves intricate piping pattern, hand-moulding sugar works or hand-crafted stand will eventually be higher in price.  Attaching a picture of a potential cake design along with your inquiry email would help the cake designer to reply you with a more accurate quote.

3)  Venue Location – Hiring local vendors would help save some cost on delivery and set-up fee, especially for locations that are more remote.

I always encourage couples to bring items that may reflect their style, color scheme and wedding theme to the initial meeting.  Stationery pattern, monogram design, floral bouquet, gown pattern or bridesmaid’s dress color/design could be great inspiration for the cake design.  Most reputable cake designers are booked up quite far in advance.  I would highly recommend couples to contact their potential designers at least six to nine months in advance, especially if the wedding date falls into the busy wedding season between May to October.  Other than design, the taste of the cake is equally important, so a tasting should be included as part of the consultation as well.  Preparing a list of questions that might concern you regarding the cake would help you determine the right designer for your cake.  Most commonly asked questions are “When the cake is made?”,  “Do you have insurance for the cake in case of damage during transport?”,  “Any back-up plan in case of accident?”, or “What if I change my mind on design at a later point?”, etc.  Shopping for your wedding cake should be the lease stressful and most enjoyable part of the planning, so have fun!

Thank you to Shirley’s Sweet Creations for your insight.

Your Very Own Bridal Suite with:

A bottle of Sparkling Wine & Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Spectacular Multi-Course Dinner Menus

Unlimited Open Bar Packages

Wine Service with Dinner

Sparkling Wine Toast for all Guests with Dinner

Packages start from $85/person (before winter discount) and includes at no extra cost; venue rental, tables, chairs, linen and complete place settings and much more…

Call today for a Free Estimate and Venue Tour: 416-542-3789 or info@libertygrand.com. If you would like assistance with these appointments, Stirling Wedding Designs would be more than happy to accompany you on your visit.

Standing majestically at Toronto’s downtown lakefront, the Liberty Grand is the crown jewel of Exhibition Place.  Originally constructed in 1926, this building has an impressive heritage.  Not only have they recaptured the original features but they’ve restored the 1920’s splendour and status as one of the city’s finest.

Gracefully blending the exuberant Beaux Arts monumentality of the exterior with the classical interior finishes, you will enjoy the epitome of luxury and elegance.  Dedicated to the highest standard of hospitality, the Liberty Grand offers the ultimate experience in customer service.  This magnificent complex exudes an ambiance of style and refined beauty unparalleled in Toronto.  Selecting their exquisite various banquet facilities, you will be surrounded by an atmosphere of grandeur and uncompromising quality, as well as a most spectacular lakefront view.

With over 100,000 square feet of lavish ballrooms, waterfalls, and courtyards, Liberty Grand is the jewel of private function facilities. Whether your function is for 150 or 3500 guests, make your next event a Liberty Grand event.

“When it comes to surpassing expectations, the Liberty Entertainment Group takes pride in having perfected this are.”

I have personally worked two weddings at Liberty Grand and their staff is wonderful to work with.

Important Questions Couples need to know when interviewing a DJ…

What should a couple ask when first sitting with a DJ?

Some of the key questions you should ask a DJ when first meeting with them are:

-          How many years have they been in business?

-          What type of music are they capable of catering to?

-          How many hours of music are included in your package?

-          What time will the DJ arrive?

-          How long will they need to set up?

-          What does the DJ require from the hall? (Table, Power etc.)

-          Is the DJ open to requests?

-          Do they have Insurance/AVLA Licensing (Insurance is not mandatory but recommended. AVLA licensing is required for any downloaded music)

What type of Packages do you offer?

At MDB, we offer multiple packages to suit the needs of our clients. We offer everything from basic packages for those that just require some music to full packages including LED lighting, Dry Ice, Projector/Screens and other types of equipment. We are very flexible with our packages and are willing to create a custom package to cater to our client’s needs.

What makes you different from other DJ’S?

Many DJ companies out there unfortunately try to bite off more than they can chew. They book more jobs than they can afford to staff and eventually end up sending DJ’s they don’t completely trust or lack in experience to your event. Every DJ Company will have their “A Team” as well as DJ’s that are still in training or require more experience. With companies that deal with large numbers of parties every week you are not guaranteed an “A Team” DJ and might end up with someone just starting off.   At MDB Entertainment, we only work with our “A Team” DJs and MCs. Once all our DJs and MCs are booked, we simply don’t accept any more jobs for that day.

Would you offer Destination Weddings and if so how much equipment do you take down south with you?

Depending on availability, we would definitely accept a Destination Wedding. In the past, our DJs bring their Laptop, CD Players & Mixer, other equipment such as speakers & lights are rented from local companies down south.

Do you act as the MC or does the couple need to find one?

Depending on the required involvement of the MC, the DJ may act as the MC as well. Weddings or other events that require a full introduction, centrepiece giveaway, games or a large setup may require an MC as well.

Thank you to Mark Del Biondi for sending me this valuable information regarding DJ s. If you’d like to contact Mark to make an appointment or get a quote, you will find him at:  www.MDBEntertainment.com  or 416-804-8674.

Thank you to Mark Del Biondi for your DJ insight.

Stay tuned for more valuable DJ info…

Memories last forever! So should the look of your bridal gown. With over 20 years of experience our bridal gown specialists will assure you that the look of your formal wear will be maintained. We will carefully inspect your gown for stains and damages to the fabric.

All gowns are professionally wet cleaned and hand finished with the greatest of care. After cleaning, we allow the customer to inspect the dress prior to the packaging process. This extra step reassures the customer that their gown was handled with the utmost of care.

Your gown is then delicately packaged with acid-free tissue paper in an air tight box to preserve your heirloom for future generations.

EXCLUSIVE COUTURE Cleaning Story

One of our recent projects was the cleaning and restoration of a $22,000.00 Vera Wang couture gown which was featured in an episode of the hit television series Crash & Burn. We successfully wet cleaned the wedding gown and restored its shape to perfect condition, one of TSC WETCLEAN’S most challenging endeavors to date.

Visit their website at http://www.tscwetclean.com/ for more cleaning details and to find out why wet clean is better for your environment than dry cleaning.

Many couples believe that this is as easy as choosing a location in the Caribbean. They want to plan their own wedding but don’t know what country or resort to choose. There are many variables to consider when deciding on a destination location. Somethings to bear in mind are:

• Do you want to get married on the beach with your feet in the white powdery sand or under a gazebo covered with tropical flowers or in a lush tropical garden. Are you the adventurous type that want to get married under the water in your scuba gear or zip line across the jungle screaming out “I DO”?
• Have you considered the Temazcal experience for both families to join together spiritually before this couple unites.
• What type of resort are you looking for? An all-inclusive resort, a quiet boutique resort or a resort full of activities and lots of action?
• Is food important to you? If so, do you want a resort that offers only two restuarants or a resort that offers a variety of 10 or more restuarants to choose from? What type of cuisine are you looking for at these restaurants?
• What do you want your Wedding Package to consist of: florist, DJ, photographer, videographer, cake etc.?
• What is your budget and does it include transportation for just the couple or the entire wedding party to travel to this destination?
• How many guests are you expecting?

Sounds overwelming doesn’t it? These are just a few of the questions to be considered when deciding on the best resort that suites your destination wedding dream and is just the beginning of the process. Stirling Wedding Designs has a great deal of knowledge when it comes to Destination Weddings and takes pride in being detail oriented in order to capture your vision as you have planned. Customizing your wedding is what we do best and our commitment will surpass your every expectation.

Sandy has been given the opportunity over the past several years to visit many resorts in the Caribbean. These “FAM” trips (short for familiarization trip) for wedding planners and travel agents have given me the opportunity to personally experience first hand all that these amazing resorts and what they have to offer. On the site tours we view the room categories, sample the cuisine and observe several on-site wedding locations. On several occasions we have witnessed wedding ceremonies, seeing first hand how the resorts handle their weddings. We have been given the chance to speak with local vendors including florists, decor companies, photographers  and many others. I have been fortunate enough to  have been able to visit Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, Bahamas, Bimini Bay, Barbados and Mexico.

You can contact me by Email: Sandy or call me at 647-448-3648 to book an appointment. I look forward to hearing from you and booking your dream Destination Wedding.

Formerly The Eglinton Theatre, this historic landmark has been restored to its original 1936 grandeur.  Recapture the elegant design and sophistication of this majestic facility.  Boasting a spectacular ballroom, the venue is exclusively yours for the evening. Holding true to its art deco decor, The Eglinton Grand is adorned with rich woods including mahogany and ebony, elegant granite, beautiful wainscoting and period furniture.  The lounge effect of the mezzanine level balcony creates an ideal cocktail area and for mingling after dinner.

The ballroom features intelligent state of the art sound and lighting.  The facility is wheelchair accessible.  The venue can host dinners from 50 to 550 and receptions for up to 1000 guests.  The Gallery at the Eglinton Grand is an intimate ceremony room, seating up to 220 people.  The room boasts skylights over an elevated ceremony area.  Its art deco decor perfectly compliments the style of the main ballroom.  Whether you are having your reception at the Eglinton Grand or are simply looking for a distinctive venue to hold your ceremony the Gallery can be transformed to meet your needs.  It features many amenities that will make your event memorable such as a bridal room and the option of having your ceremony on site.

The Eglinton Grand is a full service facility providing exceptional food and service meticulously executed by its professional staff.  Unlike most landmark facilities, clients will find everything under one roof, making hosting an event at The Eglinton Grand worry free.  Venue rental includes catering staff and bartenders, tables, custom designed art deco banquet chairs, Royal Doulton china, cutler, glassware and white floor length linens and napkins.  Kosher, Chinese and Indian catering is available upon request.