Paper Crown - Lauren Conrad

I never watched The Hills before but I knew of Lauren Conrad. Mostly because her name seems to pop up all over the place and she seems to be quite an entrepreneur. At the bookstore, I see she has written several books (I didn't buy or read any), going through magazines I see she is also a fashion designer. When I came across Paper Crown  and learned she also designed a line of bridesmaid dresses, I finally took notice. Of course, it had to be wedding related for me to take notice!

Here are some dresses from her collection. I think they are very contemporary and while I hate to say it, I kinda mean it: They are dresses you can wear again.

~Monica Hui
Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

Wedding Don't DIY (Wedding Regrets)

I love doing DIYs and I think it shows through this blog. I have a can do attitude and most things I believe I can make myself and possible make it even better. (That is my ego talking/blogging, not me.) However, there are some things I always suggest to my clients to leave it to the professionals. Here are my top five things I believe are wedding DON'T DIY (or wedding regrets.)

1) Photos
Don't ask/or let your cousin Harry be your wedding photographer because he just bought a new camera/is interested in starting a wedding photography business and needs to build up his portfolio/ or he is willing to do it for free. Likely he won't be able to capture all the right moments, at the right angle, at the right time.

Don't just use disposable cameras for your wedding. Your guests will likely be taking stupid pictures of each other or of their food. You won't get pictures worthy of hanging or in an album. Maybe good ones for scrapbooking though.



2) Wedding Dress
Unless you are a designer by trade or the child of a master seamstress that inherited some dress making genes, I wouldn't tackle this project just because you bought a new sewing machine from Costco. Best to buy or even borrow one.



3) Food
A lot of my clients have some cooking skills but the reason why "food" is on the list is because you are not likely used to or have experience cooking for 100+ guests, or even 50+ guests. The food might not turn out poorly but will likely stress you out completely on a day when it should be relatively stress-free.



4) Flowers
Even if you are going for a freestyle handheld boho flower bouquet, it really won't look the same as a professional florist's version. You can take a course on flower arranging to boost your confidence, but it won't boost your skill set drastically.



5) Music
Years ago I learned you can rent all the DJ equipment needed for your wedding for a fraction of the price of hiring a DJ. I was intrigued when I was looking at a price list, then I was horrified by the questions I overheard from the people renting the items. Very few of them knew what they needed or how to operate it. While I believe almost anyone can play music, few amateurs will be able to create ambiance and a lively entertaining environment for your guests.



photography: Michele M. Waite 

What do you think of this Don't DIY list? Agree or disagree? Let me know what your thoughts are!

~Monica Hui
Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

What's New at Wishahmon - October 2014

Huge announcement alert: 

We are having our first ever wedding gown sale! 

Tons of our gowns have been discounted to over 50% of their original price. We are offering gowns as low as $300! All Ruby Woo gowns are also on sale, including sample and brand new gowns. Ruby Woo is a Calgary brand designed locally. They retail for $1000, was at our store for $600-$800, and has been discounted for this sale for $300-$500! 

Below are just some of the gowns on sale. Check out the rest on our sale page and book an appointment today via email: weddings@wishahmon.com or (403)818-3199. 

Spread the news to all your girlfriends too! They will love you for it! 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Houston Spring 2015 Bridal Collection

When I initially started writing this blog, it was really hard for me to blog because I felt it had to be written perfectly, interesting so that people will want to read it, and I cannot say shit even when something was shitty. My mindset changed when I started to view this blog as a way to share interesting things that I found on the internet. Similar to wanting to share a the great deal you get on a new shirt with a girlfriend.

I came across the wedding gowns of Sarah Houston and learned she is a Canadian based designer. Her designs are a blend of romance and elegance, old world charm and modernism. If you too have used these key words in describing your dream gown, her 2015 Bridal Collection is a must see for you! 

~Monica Hui
Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

Wedding Disaster: Missing Wedding Cake

The title of this blog applies to situations where the cake doesn't get delivered, didn't get ordered, or gets damaged before it arrives at the venue.

The last situation happened to my clients just three hours before they were supposed to cut their cake. Their three tiered wedding cake fell on the floor during delivery - all three tiers were damaged. At this time, the other vendors at the wedding looked at me and asked "What are you going to do now hot shot wedding planner?" After saying a couple of times a word that rhymes with duck, I pulled myself together and thought of several options. Here are some of the options I came up with:

1. Check with your pastry chef to see if they have other cakes they can provide you. If your wedding is on Saturday, they might be able to give you a cake they have prepared for a Sunday wedding. At this time, it is best on to be picky about flavors or style of cake. Assess what is more important to you - less than desirable cake or no cake.

 Anna Elizabeth Cakes

2. See if your venue can help out. Likely they have a pastry chef that can wipe something up. If you are having your reception at a restaurant or golf course, this option should be the easiest for you. Once again you will have to assess the situation - $$$$ cake or no cake. (Some venues will likely not overcharge you for the cake.)

 Cotton and Crumbs

3. Call another cake company to see if they can help out. If your own cake company doesn't have a cake to spare, call another cake company. They might be able to help you out. In this case, if you have a wedding planner, he/she will likely call his/her peeps for an emergency cake call out. No worries. Leave it with your wedding planner.

 Yummy Cupcakes and Cakes 

4. Borrow a fake cake and buy a sheet cake from Costco. I only suggest this option if having a visually stunning cake is really important to you. If so, consider this option before your wedding and find out where you can rent a cake last minute.

 Cotton and Crumbs

5. Forget about the cake - likely your guests would not notice. If your guests do ask about a cake, either tell them that you didn't want a cake or ask them if they are still hungry. (Only do the latter to the guests you don't really like. But then again, why are they even at your wedding in the first place?)

 Gateaux Inc

For my clients, I went with option #1. I gave the cake company an extra five hours to come up with a cake. I told my clients that we were not going to cut the cake before the reception because we are running late and their guests are likely hungry. We will cut the cake after dinner reception. I didn't tell my clients until the day after to which the groom said: "I thought the cake flavor was different and not what I ordered!" All in all, it worked out.

Hope these suggestions help calm your nerves if you are worried about your missing wedding cake on your wedding day. Of course, I hope this doesn't happen to you!!

~Monica Hui
Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

DIY Save the Date Scratch Cards

I like scratch cards as much as I like stickers. When my parents had a fast food restaurant, I would trade a Chinese food lunch box for scratch cards from a Korean guy that was watching his parent's convenience store. After my mom found out, I didn't get into too much trouble. She just thought it was a bad trade since I rarely won any money and the Korean guy always got fed. Truth is, while it was nice to win some money I just really like scratching the cards and playing the game.

Fast forward to today, I found a step by step tutorial over on Art Mind on how you can make your own DIY scratch cards. Although the pictures below are for save the date cards, they can also be used for wedding shower ideas or any other event.

If you attempt to make these, please let me know how it went! Better yet, please send me one to scratch!! 

~Monica Hui
Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

Unless Someone Like You 

Wedding Resource - Wedding Shows

This blog post is to expand on Vincci's latest blog post about wedding resources. (Yes, we actually talk too. We don't just communicate via this blog.)

Although money is definitely a consideration when hiring a wedding planner or day of coordinator, couples should really also consider how much help they want or need with wedding planning. Personally, I think it is great for a couple to plan their wedding and only hire a day of coordinator. This is the biggest event they will be planning together. The only thing that they might not be able to do themselves is to oversee all the aspects of the wedding when they are actually getting married! However, if you have no idea where to start and just want a wonderful wedding without any stress, hiring a wedding planner is the way to go!

The resources that Vincci have been using are great! Another great wedding resource is to attend local wedding shows. This is your opportunity to meet a ton of wedding professionals under one roof. You get to meet and talk to them about your wedding; touch, look, and sometimes taste their products; and shop for your wedding! Sometimes vendors have specials only available to couples that book or purchase the day of the show!

The next big upcoming bridal shows are:
Bridal Fantasy
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Telus Convention Center

Wedding Fair
Sunday, January 18, 2015
BMO Center, Stampede Park
(Wishahmon will be at this one! If you come to this show, make sure you come by to say Hi!)

~Monica Hui
Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

Riki Dalal - Provence Collection

The  Riki Dalal Provence Collection features layers of soft lace and embroidered embellishments of beads, pearls and crystals. This collection is perfect for the bride that wants a lace wedding gown but her fiance made a comment that "he hates lace because it reminds him of his grandma." Trust me, if you put on one of these gowns, your fiance will not be thinking about his grandma. He won't even be looking at his grandma or anyone other than you! 

~Monica Hui
Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!