Certified wedding planners of the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) had the opportunity to have the annual Sandals Resorts training at the exclusive members-only Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. We were treated to an amazing and delicious 3-course lunch during the training session… it was hard to focus after that!

We got to learn about all the Sandals and Beaches Resort properties. The photos in the catalogue are just amazing, if only we could instantly transport ourselves! Each property has tons of activities to keep you, your spouse/partner, friends, bridal party, wedding guests, and children busy! Enjoy world class dining options already included in your Luxury Sandals Vacation!

Weddingmoons® are becoming more and more popular! Have your wedding and honeymoon at any of the Sandals properties located in the Caribbean on the amazing islands of Jamaica, Bahamas, St. Lucia, Grenada, and Antigua!

Even better, Sandals offers a “Stay-at-1, Play-at-3″ promotion on certain properties. Book a stay at Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, or Sandals Carlyle, and free round-trip transportation is included that you can visit all 3 properties! That’s TRIPLE the amount of dining options, activities, and BEACHES!

For more info, please contact Envision Elegance!

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For those that know me on a personal and professional level, I’m a pretty outgoing, friendly (and honest-but-in-a-friendly-kind-of-way) person and I love meeting new people! Each person has a unique story and each person has taken different paths to get to where they are today.

I definitely love the stories that are captured in photos. As it has been said, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. I had the privilege of sitting down with Jeffrey Chan of Jeffrey Chan Wedding Photography to discuss weddings, fashion, travel, and best of all–photography.

I absolutely love talking to people who have passion and love for what they do. With a background in engineering, Jeffrey emerged in the fashion photography industry capturing moments on the runway and models for editorial pieces. And these photos will speak for themselves. Very VOGUE / NYFW worthy. I am in love with the black & white.

For wedding photography, his approach is out-of-the-box, unique, non-cookie-cutter [as he likes to put it] Capturing a couple’s love story is most important in both traditional and non-traditional aspects. Wedding details are captured, but with a great emphasis on capturing the love, the smiles, the hugs, the laughter, and the people who get to enjoy in the celebration!

Jeffrey’s clientele is also very unique

Jeffrey Chan photographs weddings from Toronto to Hong Kong to Hawaii and anywhere else in between.

Fashion Photography: http://www.jeffreychan.ca/
Wedding Photography: http://www.jeffreytkchan.com/

All photos are copyright of Jeffrey Chan Photography and have been used with permission.

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Alright, so, yes, I’m a wedding planner. And I don’t want a wedding. (This totally sounds like I’m in some weird anti-wedding club, but I’m not!)

WHAT?!? (You exclaim in frustration and shock).

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE WEDDINGS. However, this is not about a wedding. This is about a MARRIAGE. These two things are completely different concepts, and this is probably one of the factors that lead to separation and divorce. 50% of marriages end in divorce! Isn’t that a shocking statistic?! What happened to the whole institution of marriage?! If communication fails, the marriage fails.

BTW, as an added note, I’m SO PRO for GAY-MARRIAGE.

So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of why I don’t want a wedding:

1. This is a partnership between two people and both have to be happy with the decision. No resentment or straining the relationship because of financial or family obligations for one day.
2. The amount of money being spent can go towards paying my student loan debt and a down payment for a house.
3. We love our family and friends and would rather spend quality time in a more intimate setting with them.
4. We (and I mean mostly me) would rather not plan this event for a year *trying* to make everyone happy and shedding countless blood, sweat, and tears and being constantly frustrated. (But that’s why wedding planners come in handy!)
5. At the end of the day, and probably a few years down the road… I won’t remember what flowers I had, the colour of my napkins and linens, centerpieces, shoes, etc. probably because I have a bad memory, but also because those things will not bring happiness in my marriage.

Please do not take my reasons as reasons why YOU shouldn’t have a wedding. If you’re in a better/strong financial position to throw a small gathering to a big bash, then definitely go for it! If you can’t live without your white bridal Louboutins, then go buy them.

However, these are personal reasons for me and my fiance. We are really simple people who have loved each other for 12 years and will continue to love each other for the rest of our lives.

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Trump Toronto is one of the luxury hotels in Downtown Toronto and just over a year old since it opened its doors on January 31, 2012. This past Saturday was the first ever Wedding Showcase at this hotel. Prior to entering the hotel, I could see the glitz, the glam, and the luxury.

Honoured guests for the wedding showcase were greeted warmly at the revolving doors and directed to the lifts to take them to the 9th floor. Staff were on hand to greet you with complimentary coat check, and a goodie bag filled with information about hosting your wedding at Trump Toronto, a copy of the latest WedLuxe Magazine issue, and some chocolates from the STOCK Restaurant Chocolate Lab.

One ballroom was set up for a ceremony that can accommodate 160+ guests with a beautiful altar. Another ballroom was set up with a dance floor, headtable, and guest tables.

Trump Toronto went all out and had amazing passed hor d’oeuvres, complimentary drinks with sampling of Proseco, and lots of sweet samples from the Chocolate Lab!

The wonderful and amazing Queen of weddings, Jane Dayhus-Hinch herself of Wedding S.O.S. was available for a meet and greet in the Presidential Suite on the 30th floor.

For more photos from this event, please see our Facebook Page & don’t forget to LIKE US!

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The beginning of each year brings a whole new round of bridal shows. Whether you’re in a small town or a big city, bridal shows, open houses, bridal trunk shows, or wedding showcases are in abundance and everyone seems to be getting on the bandwagon to showcase to the newly engaged brides and grooms the potential for their dream weddings to come to life.

I can’t even tell you how many bridal shows I’ve been to, even before I was engaged, and even before I became a planner. Weddings are an obsession. I love all the details, the colours, and the romance it brings.

However, there are definitely cons. Some bridal shows are so hectic because it’s only on one day, only a few hours, and vendors and potential clients are crammed in to maximize exposure. You don’t have the one-on-one conversation with vendors to ask them questions, you hoarde all the information in a bag (if you’re even given one) and barely look at them afterwards, and you sample macarons, cupcakes, and all the goodies!

Rundown for Toronto Bridal Shows (excluding GTA)

MOST GLAM BRIDAL SHOW: WedLuxe takes the cake (venue changes annually)

MOST INTERACTION WITH VENDORS: The Wedding Co. Show (The Carlu)

INFORMATION OVERLOAD: Canada’s Bridal Show (Metro Toronto Convention Centre)

This past Sunday on St. Patrick’s Day I was at the Intercontinental Yorkville Hotel on Bloor to attend The Original Wedding Soiree Bridal Show. It was a one day event with all the vendors crammed into the rooms and high-tea with a first come, first serve seating arrangement. Lots of unique vendors and I finally got to meet the wondeful Angelique from Rich Bride, Poor Bride (I was in awe! Love her!).

Definitely do your research on which vendors are showcasing, a list of WHO you want/MUST speak to, keep it to a small entourage (MOH & MOB – maid of honour, mother of the bride) and be efficient, but also enjoy the experience!

Photo credits (and more photos): Envision Elegance

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