Planning a wedding is a lot like buying a house. You do the research, crunch the numbers, think ahead – and you put the best possible team around yourself to help you get exactly what you want. When wedding disasters happen, it usually comes down to poor planning. And many smart, capable couples just plain and simple don’t think through some of the basic details that will make or break their wedding. That’s what a planner is for.

We want every couple to have a happy wedding. So for everyone out there who may be getting married, and is trying to do it on their own, here are some common wedding pitfalls you can absolutely avoid with careful planning.

1. Nothing is as it was supposed to be. You talked to the caterer a hundred times, the florist at least a dozen, and you thought the person in charge of the reception hall was practically your new best friend. How on earth did they get it so terribly wrong? Like everything, the devil is in the details – and it all starts with the contract. Make sure you have signed contracts with all of your service providers and all of their deliverables, estimates and costs in writing. Know your rights when it comes to your service providers – and read every contract carefully before signing.

2. The Wedding doesn’t fit the Couple. Plan your wedding for who you are, not who you wish you were. Some brides get so caught up in the romance of it all, for example, they choose gowns that are right for someone else, but not them. Or they have gowns altered well in advance of the wedding hoping they will be a size they haven’t been since grade school. Or they choose menus that sound good – but won’t be enjoyed by them or their guests. Your wedding will be perfect if it reflects the “you” that your friends and family love.

3. The Wedding doesn’t Happen. Yup, a wedding not happening actually happens. The most common reasons? Well, some are obvious, like one party or the other changing their minds. But there are other  reasons why weddings get cancelled on the day. Like the bride, groom or a witness showing up drunk. Doesn’t seem like too big of a big deal? It is. By law, marriage commissioners and members of the clergy cannot allow the marriage to proceed.   And don’t forget to get your marriage license in advance of your wedding. You will need the proper ID, including a copy of your birth certificate and a certificate of divorce if it applies. No marriage license, no marriage.

4. The Attack of Bridezilla. She is not mythical. She exists and is known to frequent Last Minute Land. It’s a terrible place where seating plans, music lists and speeches don’t materialize until, yup, you guessed it,   the last minute, if at all. She often forgets to pre-book her decorator, meaning her family is busy decorating on the day instead of enjoying their time together. She also sometimes has such high expectations of the day that nothing short of actual unicorns descending from the heavens could meet them. But all Bridezillas disappear at the first sign of relaxation and genuine enjoyment of the day, no matter what is going on or wrong.  Guests won’t remember the little things that weren’t perfect. They will, however, remember it as flawless if the bride is gracious, having a good time, and ensuring her guests are well cared for.

5. Couples lose at Weather Roulette. Some couples hold outdoor weddings but forget to make any kind of weather contingency. Did you know that in Calgary, June is the rainiest month?  Far too many couples learn that the hard way. Make sure you have tents and everything you need for a flawless back up plan if the weather turns against you. And if it does rain, know this: superstition says rain on your wedding day is good luck. Imagine what kind of luck you’ll have if it snows. And yes, in Calgary, it can snow in June.

There’s no question, a wedding is a lot of work. But it’s worth it. And if you can avoid the more common pitfalls, you’re on your way to a wedding day that will bring you many happy memories throughout the years.

Sometimes, you need a venue that offers a little bit of everything: accommodation, dining and an elegant space for an event. Kensington Riverside Inn could be exactly what you’re looking for… 

Kensington Riverside Inn

1126 Memorial Drive NW,
Calgary, AB T2N 3E3
Phone: 403.228.4442
Fax: 403.228.9608
Toll Free: 877.313.3733
www.kensingtonriversideinn.com
info@kensingtonriversideinn.com

Kensington Riverside Inn is a premier luxury 19-room boutique inn that combines upscale accommodations with an intimate charm. Located steps from Downtown Calgary along the banks of the picturesque Bow River, it’s a chic and stylish venue with a warm and personal feel.

The whole place has an upscale Bed & Breakfast feel to it. The inn’s superb 40 seat restaurant that was voted Best Hotel Dining in 2009 (Where Magazine), and was voted one of Canada’s best new restaurants for 2008 by enRoute Magazine.

Originally designed by award-winning architect Richard Lindseth, the Kensington Riverside Inn exudes an upscale residential charm with an ambiance that is light, airy, gracious and inviting. The stylish rooms were all individually decorated to make guests feel at home.

The 19 rooms and suites feature triple-sheeted Frette linens, heated towel bars, 42” flat-screen plasma TVs, personal wine cabinets, high-speed wireless Internet, voicemail, high-end furnishings, independent climate control and windows that open. Some rooms also feature gas fireplaces, double jetted Jacuzzi tubs, balconies and patios.

Because of the intimate nature of the inn, parking is limited, but not a deal breaker. The dining room can only hold 40-70 people for sit down dinners, and 80 people for a cocktail style reception wedding, so it’s only suitable for certain types and sizes of events.

For those looking to combine sophisticated elegance with intimate charm, Kensington Riverside Inn provides the perfect marriage of both.

The popular adage “Location! Location! Location!” holds just as true for events as it does for real estate. Carrying on in our ongoing efforts to help you plan your events, today we’ll look at Anderson Ranch.  For those looking to book an event outside of the city, its rustic location comes with nature’s very own majestic backdrop.

Anderson Farm/Rocky Mountain Show Jumping
Phone: (403) 256-7150 
http://www.rmshowjumping.com

Map to Anderson Farm

It is, quite literally, a little piece of heaven.

Located just minutes south of Spruce Meadows and right next to Sirocco Golf Course, Anderson Farm is an idyllic equestrian facility with a beautiful and scenic prairie view.

With its marvelous grounds and stunning view, Anderson Farm is perfect for weddings, family events and children’s parties.

Adding to its allure is the fabulous price: The tent rental is $3000 + GST (may change for next year).  This more than reasonable rental price also has you covered when it comes to extras.

For example, Included in the 40×120 tent is:

• flooring and carpet (rain will not come into the tent this way)
• stage and dance floor
• chivari chairs (this year. may change to folding next year)
• 6’ and 8’ long tables and 5’ round tables (seating eight)
• tent heaters and tent lighting (modern chandeliers)
• power is included unless there’s a large amount needed (a band or event lighting for example)
• ceremony and picture spots available
• lots of free parking
• permanent washrooms – hopefully hooked up by May
• podium for speeches

On the flip side, it’s a bit of a hike to the washrooms which feels a little further in poorer weather, but effective tenting can generally solve the problem.  And wheelchair accessibility to washrooms is not available until the permanent facilities are set up. Make sure you check your dates before booking because the facility provides Show Jumping events and so these days are already booked.

Its proximity to Calgary is ideal for those wanting a get away within a one hour drive of the city – but not perfect for those wanting a more urban experience.

For those who want their event to marry Alberta’s wild with comfort and style, Anderson Ranch has all the ingredients to create a beautifuland unforgettable day, and at a very reasonable price.

An interesting trend is starting to emerge in weddings. Once strictly a bride’s domain, wedding planning is increasingly involving both the groom and bride. In fact, according to Bridal Guide Magazine, more than 80 per cent of grooms are involved to varying degrees in the planning of their weddings. That’s a significant shift from, say, your parents’ wedding.

And why not? Weddings are a HUGE amount of work – infinitely more work than most brides realize when they start down the path of wedding planning. If you’re doing it yourself, there is plenty of stress, er fun, to go around, meaning having a good, strong extra pair of hands to help may not just be a nice thing to have, it could be downright essential.

Besides, a wedding is about two people celebrating their new beginning together. It  may be your day, and of course you want it to be perfect, but here’s the thing – having him help with the planning doesn’t have to change any of that.  In fact, it could make your life a lot easier.

Planning a wedding is a lot like a marriage. It involves communication and compromise.

When a groom and bride co-plan a wedding, it’s important to determine right up front who is in charge of what tasks. You can decide by consensus (all choices must be co approved by both but are sourced by the one or the other) or by absolutes (the groom and  bride each have final say over their tasks).

As a rule, men are more interested in certain areas of wedding planning (hello food and music) and are often more than happy enough to stay well away from other areas (hello flowers and decors ).

Your groom may be passionate about a particular choice or direction regarding the wedding planning, and if that’s the case, you need to assess if taking it the direction you’d originally planned is really that important. That, really, is between the two of you – but even if you’re not crazy about his choices, do enjoy the fact that he wants to be part of the wedding and not just some guy who shows up on the big day in a tux with a ring.

Okay, sure, often enough the groom’s involvement in wedding planning has a lot to do with his type of personality. And there are guys out there who just don’t have the “wedding planner” gene. But even the ones who are ready to jump in are also willing to leave most final decisions to their future brides. Chances are, they have not grown up with the same expectations of what their wedding will be as you have – and they know that.

But there’s no reason why your groom shouldn’t have some fun too. In fact, a site called The Man Registry that launched a couple of years ago is getting a lot of buzz because it specializes in all things pertaining to grooms, including gifts for groomsmen, bachelor party planning and gifts that go beyond traditionally bride-centric gifts.

Whether it’s dessert choices or picking the first dance song, remember that a wedding is a wedding for two. No wedding is as beautiful as that of a a groom and bride who have worked together for a day that is special for everyone.   Pull off a great wedding day that reflects both of you as you’d like it to, and you’ve taken a great first step to a wonderful, long and happy life together.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For the ultimate eco-fabulous green wedding, how about an edible centrepiece?…yes, we said edible…yes, for your wedding.

Imagine chocolate covered strawberries overflowing on fabulous decorative glass platters or on lovely tiered pastry stands.  Accent the strawberries with edible (pesticide free) organic flowers, such as gardenias, day lilies or roses.  You could even do it yourself if need be!

Directions

1. Melt one pound of organic dark chocolate with two tablespoons of shortening or grapeseed oil.

2. Dip the strawberries into melted chocolate and lay on parchment paper to cool.

3. Drizzle melted white chocolate over all or some of the strawberries for a striking accent.

Pots of edible herbs or wheatgrass accented with potted edible flowers also make a great centrepiece. Bonus:  your guests can take them to plant in their gardens for a lasting memory of your wedding.

This next suggestion can be truly striking and sublime.  Place apples, oranges, lemons, limes, pears, peaches, and other in season fruits and berries in tall, clear vases of varying heights.  Again, edible flowers and nuts as well can be included in this centrepiece.

How about edible bouquets with chocolate Ecuadorian roses and yellow violets along with sugared orange and lemon wedges? Fabulous! Here’s something fun: large ice cream cones topped with edible white carnations to form the scoops of “ice cream.”  Place the ice cream cones in glass containers on 2-3 stands of varying heights.  The kids and the young at heart will love these.

Edible centrepieces will wow your guests and best of all, leave nothing that needs to be thrown out! They are an eco-chic solution for eco-savvy brides….

Red roses and white pine cones

The ring is bought, the words rehearsed — you’re prepared. But you want to add a little special something to your proposal…think engagement flowers. You are brilliant! There are not too many women who will tell you they don’t love receiving a beautiful bouquet.

A picture paints a thousand words, but in the world of romance, a carefully chosen bouquet of flowers can be the most eloquent statement of your love — other than the fabulous ring you just bought for her, of course.

If you decide to give your love engagement flowers, here are a few tips on making them winter wonderful for your holiday proposal.

Go for elegance with a silver and white look or celebrate the season with reds and greens. Create a sparkling winter land of evergreens, white, silver, and crystal.

For a magical winter bouquet, use Austrian crystals or use a few strategically placed sparkling crystal flowers within the bouquet of blooms you choose.

Red and white aren’t just the colours of Christmas, they’re also the colour of love. The combination of red and white roses symbolizes union.

Bouquet Ideas

These arrangements can also be used to create floral centerpieces or given as beautiful hostess gifts too.

• White poinsettias mixed with red roses or tulips
• Red roses mixed with white lilies and holly
• Red and white roses accented with fragrant evergreens and eucalyptus.
• Calla lilies with clusters of purple/blue berries
• Gardenias, holly berries and ivy
• Hydrangeas and pomegranate with trailing ribbons
• Blue hydrangeas, baby’s breath and silvery eucalyptus
• Gardenias, red berries, white rose buds with green ivy
• White roses, white hydrangeas, white sweet peas, white ribbon and tulle
• Red rose buds, pinecones with pine leaves and red ribbon
• Red poinsettias mixed with white tulips or roses

Engagement Ring

You’ve got your plan of action on how and when to pop the big question. Now it’s time to think about the ring. It’s possible your bride-to-be (don’t faint – that’s what she’ll become!) has dropped many hints about what type of engagement ring she wants.

Study the kind of jewelry she generally wears. Is it simple of flashy? Does she prefer platinum, yellow or white gold? Does she prefer simple styles or something that will be instantly noticed? Do you know what kind of cut of stone she prefers?

It can pay to go window shopping for jewelry and take note of her reaction to certain shapes and styles. You may even be surprised to find out that she’s not a diamond girl. Remember the engagement ring is important – she’ll be wearing it for the rest of her life…no pressure though.

But if all else fails, consult with your girlfriend’s friends or sisters about ring styles.

Do you need a ring to propose? Technically, no, but many women may tell you that neglecting to have an engagement ring at your proposal is the most serious proposal related mistake a man can make. Need we say more?

Size matters

You should probably consider how to figure out the ring size of your girlfriend’s wedding finger. There is an easy way to do this without any measuring required. Chances are she wears a ring on her right hand ring finger and she’ll probably take that ring off occasionally.

Launch a covert operation and sneak the ring away to make an impression in a bar of soap or lay it down on a piece of paper and trace the circumference. But don’t get too hung up on ring size. Although it is nice to have a perfect fit, remember that jewelers can easily resize an engagement ring to make it either bigger or smaller.

But the right style right matters most. If you get it right you’re ahead of the game by demonstrating to your wife-to-be that you listened to what she really wants.

Now, get down on one knee, and good luck!

It’s not always easy, but it’s worth the time it takes to think of the perfect marriage proposal. We thought we’d give you a few ideas to kick start brainstorming process for this ultra romantic and memorable occasion.  Some are for women who would prefer something more private and others are for those who prefer something with a bit more flare. We’ll post others in the coming weeks as well, some from readers too who send us their ideas….

1. During the holiday season, many large department stores have a traditional window display every year that “soon to be” enjoys taking in. Arrange to do some Christmas shopping with her.   Arrange with the  store management to have the engagement ring displayed front and centre in an opened but gift wrapped box within the display window with Christmas tree and presents.(there usually is one!).  Provide a hand written parchment scroll large enough to read that reads something like “My Darling, you are all I want for Christmas and I will love you forever if you just say yes. Will you marry me?”
2. Make a special occasion out of decorating the Christmas tree.  Slip the engagement ring onto the decoration before handing it to your sweetie to hang on the tree.  Buy a special decoration for the occasion so that every year when decorating the tree you both can relive the marriage propsal.
3. Arrange to have a group of carolers come to your door to sing her favourite Holiday song – and in the last verse have them sing your marraige proposal. On cue you profess your love and present her with the ring.
4. Take her on a romantic horse drawn carriage ride through the snowy city all snug under the rug and arrange to have a hamper filled with her favourite foods.  And just before you pull out the bottle of champagne….well you know what happens.
5. Give her a charm bracelet, with only one charm on it with the words “Marry Me” engraved on it.  Then get down on your knee and whip out the engagement ring.
6. Invite her over to your place to view your Christmas tree. Make sure that the tree is lighted, but has only a single decoration—an engagement ring.
7. If you are ABSOLUTELY SURE she will say yes, at the beginning of Christmas dinner when all the people surrounding you are important to her – stand up as if to propose a toast and instead ask her to marry you.  If you are spending the holiday dinner with her family and you really want to go traditional, ask her father for her hand first. There won’t be a dry eye in house when you turn to ask her the big question.
8. Place the engagement ring inside a cracker and leave it at her place at the Christmas dinner table.  Truly a pop the question moment!
9. Invite your love to your house on an evening during the holiday season or perhaps you may have planned on spending Christmas Eve together alone.  Leave the door unlocked with a note attached to a wreath telling her to enter.  Create a path by scattering holly branches leading from the front door to a garland of holly where you have suspended the wrapped engagement ring with a handwritten note or poem that ends with your marraige proposal.  Now kiss her and tell her why!  Alternatively, you could use candles to trace a path but promise to be careful you don’t burn the house down if you do this.
10. If your intended lives in another city and she is flying home or into town to spend Christmas with you, arrange for friends and family to join you at the airport. Make some signs for each person to hold up spelling out “Will you marry me?” as your sweetheart disembarks. Make sure you’re the one holding the “Me” sign.

The couple wanted to enjoy their wedding and each other. That meant looking for ways to alleviate as much stress as possible. Thematically, they wanted their day to be simple, elegant and to reflect the western hospitality that is so much a part of who they are.

Flowers were very important to this wedding. The right flowers can transform any space and evoke all kinds of emotions through their beauty and of course through their smell and Holly understood that, taking great time and care in choosing her flowers.

Holly’s flowers were opulent orchid, Ecuadorian rose and lily wedding. 5 foot tall centerpieces in fluted glass vases on each table delighted the guests without overpowering the conversation.

Cam exports beef internationally and he had aged his own Canadian beef to serve to his guests, a thoughtful detail that speaks to who they are.

Guests came in from all over, including international destinations, and were absolutely blown away by Holly and Cam’s choice of décor, especially the Saloon that made the whole event specifically Western and very fun.

The Keister Family Fiddlers www.keisterfamilyfiddlers.com rounded off the affair with toe tapping music that was a musical expression of the joy everyone assembled felt.

Holly, Cam, thank you for letting us be part of your special day. We wish you many years of happiness!