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Effortless Looking Wedding Updos

Of course, you want to look good at your wedding, but some of us don't want to look like we tried too hard. If you feel the same way, you have to check out these effortless looking wedding updos. They look effortless because they are imperfectly perfect. They are loose but structured. These looks would also look great for your destination wedding or summer outdoor wedding ceremony. Yes, the first picture is Miss. Lauren Conrad. I think she is going to be starting a lot of new trends in the wedding industry!


Kristen Ess


Jessica Christine Photography

Betsi Ewing via 100 Layer Cake

Anna Kidman via Magnolia Rouge

Kim Kalyn Photography via Fab You Bliss

Style Caster

The Why We Love via Anne Sage

Featured Vendor: Pose & Pucker Photobooth

Pose & Pucker Photobooth is providing an EXCLUSIVE OFFER to our readers:
10% off if they book by May 31^st, 2016. Prices listed on www.poseandpucker.com/prices and applies to new customers only. (Must give at least 2 weeks’ notice.)

You can contact Amanda Ku at 1-800-355-7038 or through email at: info@poseandpucker.com.

Please tell us about you! What do you do in a nutshell?

My name is Amanda and I am owner of Pose & Pucker Photobooth. We are an open concept mobile photobooth rental company based in Calgary, and provide service to the city and surrounding communities up to the distance of Invermere, BC. Currently, we have about 7 dedicated employees/partners, two photobooth machines and several other photobooth contractors (within and out of the city) that we work with. We provide unlimited photos, and we focus on customization including custom props, custom backdrops, and custom print layout designs! We mostly cater to weddings, but our biggest parties also include: birthday parties, corporate functions, charity initiatives, holiday parties, and stampede parties too!

When did you start your business and what was your inspiration? 

I started Pose & Pucker Photobooth in late 2013. I went to a few weddings and had so much fun at the Photobooth, when I researched about the cost, it wasn’t too much to start up, so I decided to jump two feet forward with the business. My inspiration was my best friend, she had her own business and was focused on growing it, a lot of other friends were in the wedding and entertainment business, so I decided to find something that is fun and entertaining and will allow me to attend the best parties in the city with friends.

What makes your business different from others?

My business is different from others because I provide the ultimate customer service. Unlike many of the photobooth companies out there in Calgary, I provide custom designs (I find that many companies copy templates from other people or don’t provide much customization). I also have created a new line of custom props. I will be rolling out unique theme coloured moustaches and unique props that are made out of durable plastic and can be custom designed. And lastly, we have added valuable vendors that are part of the team including a web designer, a photographer, and a wedding cake baker. We love to network and add more vendors to showcase on our blog as well!

What is the best part of your job? 
The best part of my job is attending these wonderful celebrations and being able to provide a keepsake for the hosts as well as their guests.

What do you hope to achieve with each wedding?

I try to get as many people as I can to participate in the photobooth so that we create a wonderful memory for the people that attend the wedding as well as the clients. I hope to achieve a successful photobooth experience at every wedding. Making sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

What was your most memorable wedding?

My most memorable wedding was a high school friend’s wedding. I’m not sure how many guests she had, but I predict it was over 500 as she fully booked out the Regency Restaurant in Dragon City Chinatown; it was my wedding to date. The layout was one photo per print, and I was double printing with for a 4 hour booking. I printed over 600 prints on that day alone. We were sitting by the kids table, and the kids took advantage when they saw no line up! We took photos of everyone from ages 1 to 90 and had a great time doing it!

Words that you live by?

No risk, no reward! Without the risk in life, there will be no reward. In my last couple of years in life, I was working a full-time 9-5 job that didn’t bring me the rewards I was looking for. I was great at what I did, but I kept burning myself out because I was working for people that didn’t respect me, and I was working more like 7 to 7 and I was trying to make my side business successful. I feel like my life was unstable and I wasn’t happy. When I took the risk of the photobooth company, I was thinking it would bring me extra cash and bring me closer to people that I care about. In 2015, it was the year that tested my fate and I took this side-business to a full-time opportunity, and so far the reward is far beyond that I could only imagine!

Wedding Recycle: Dealing With A Slacker Bridesmaid

In case you missed it, here is the blog post I wrote for Wedding Recycle as a guest blogger this month!

Choosing your bridesmaids is a big deal. Your bridesmaids might be your sisters, best friends, or even coworkers. Whoever you chose, you are telling them how much they mean to you and you want them to stand next you to as you make the biggest decision of your life. As you make your way to the alter, of course, you want their support, love, and help. Now, what do you do when one or all of your bridesmaids are slacking off and not helping you? This is a tricky situation as you are probably getting more and more mad with your bridesmaid's lack of help but you are afraid of losing a friend. Here are some suggestions on what to do:

1. Ask yourself if you are being reasonable.
If you had a "nightmare" and you called your bridesmaid at 3:00 am asking her to call your wedding decorator to change the color of your reception table cloths, you are being unreasonable. Your bridesmaid has every right to ignore you at 3:00 am. You better hope that your bridesmaid forgives you and talks to you the next day.

If you asked your bridesmaid to come wedding gown shopping with you and she had to reschedule four different times, I would say you are being reasonable in your assessment that your bridesmaid is a slacker. Or, she has something going on in her life that you don't know about. So, go to the next point.

2) Have an honest conversation
Remember, before your bridesmaid was "your bridesmaid," she was "your friend." Have an honest conversation with her to see what is going on in her world. Maybe she is stressed out at work, maybe she has some family issues going on, or maybe she is in a new relationship. Whatever the case, try to see what is most current in her life. Don't approach her with telling her what she hasn't been doing for you. Likely, her world doesn't revolve around yours.

3) Make a decision
Decide whether or not you still want her as your bridesmaid and whether she is up for it. If it sounds like she has a lot going on in her life at the moment, politely offer her the opportunity to back out of her role. It might be best for your friendship. If you decide that it was a misunderstanding and she is up for the role (or job), clean the slate and assume that she will be on board from now on. Don't let past feelings or anger get in the way of enjoying wedding planning with the help of your bridesmaids. Remember, after the wedding, you still want to be friends.


Style Dahlia

Featured Vendor: Riana Lisbeth Photography

I always say to my clients that choosing a photographer for your wedding day is so important. In addition to loving their photography style, you also have to be comfortable with them. If you aren't, it will show on all your pictures. Meet Riana Lisbeth Khem of Riana Lisbeth Photography, she is our featured vendor today. Get to know her a little here.

Please tell us about you! What do you do in a nutshell?
I am a wedding photographer. My job and passion is to capture all real intimate moments, all tears, laughs; smiles, all curated and beautiful details and designs that come with a wedding, because

when all said and done and the wedding is over, you only have your wedding images to look over and go along with your memories, and to retell you the story of your wedding day.

 
1. When did you start your business and what was your inspiration? 

I started my business in 2012 when I was pregnant with my first daughter, Ava. My inspiration stemmed from always loving how light worked and how I wanted to experiment with it with every camera I had.

Then when I became pregnant, I realized more and more how memories matter and how to keep them and that photography is the key and answer to it-from there i developed my business.

2. What makes your business different from others?

I think what sets me apart is both my personality and my style. I can be really funny and joke around lots, but also be quite emotional, overall though the main thing is I am incredibly easy going, my job isn't just to take the photos, it's also to help the bride & groom relax and enjoy their day. Style wise, i love moody images, the ones that really make you feel the love and intimacy that is happening in that photograph. I also love using natural light and shooting in natural landscapes.

3. What is the best part of your job? 

The best part of my job is split in two, one is feeling like my job isn't just a job, it's my passion and my love, so I rarely ever feel like I am working. The second part are the reactions when my couples receive their photos and their appreciate for capturing such special memories. 

4. What do you hope to achieve with each wedding?

Probably just to grow with each wedding, and to create a new story with each.

     

5. What was your most memorable wedding?

To me they are all so unique I probably couldn't pick just one as the most memorable.

6. Words that you live by?

Be kind to everyone.

Naama & Anat Fall/Winter 2016 Bridal Collection

Naama and Anat are a bridal designer duo from Israel who you should have on your radar if you are shopping for a wedding gown. Their Fall/Winter 2016 Collection is named Spiritual Design. Take a look at these gowns and I am sure you will be lost for words. Allow me to suggest a word: Stunning. 

The dresses are currently available in Israel and Europe only, but it is announced their upcoming debut in the US. It might be worth the trip over the border! 

Best Wedding Welcome Baskets

When your guests RSVP that they are going to attend your wedding, it is a real honor. When your guests are from out of town and they RSVP that they are coming to your wedding, it is an even bigger honor. A really nice thing to do for these out of town guests is to provide them with a welcome basket. Some of your guests might be coming to your City or even Country for the first time. In addition to having a great time at your wedding, you probably want them to have a great time on their trip!

Some tips to creating a welcome basket for your out of town guests:
1) Provide them with an itinerary. Other than the wedding date, the guests might not know there are other wedding events that they might be invited to.

2) Play tour guide. If they are not invited to the wedding shower, wedding rehearsal, or other events, suggest some places they can visit or go to. Must see locations or even coffee shops are great suggestions.

3) Give them some snacks and drinks. Regardless if they are staying with you, with family, or at a hotel, they will appreciate a local snack when hunger strikes when they are jet lagged. No one wants to buy a bag of peanuts from the hotel for $9!

4) Include a nice souvenir. It is always nice to have a small local souvenir to take home with them and to remember your wedding event by. This souvenir can definitely be something edible or drinkable!

5) Write a thank you note.Thank your guest for making the trip and attending your special day.


etsy


destinationweddingmag
elizabethannedesigns
modwedding
elizabethannedesigns

Guest Post: How to Save Money On Your Wedding Decor

Guest Blogger: Jami Christie of Wedding Recycle

Whether you're planning a themed event or a more simple colour coordinated wedding day, the cost of decorations for your Big Day can quickly add up.  Below are our top three ways to saving money on your wedding decor.

1 - Share with another couple

Talk to your venue about who could be getting married before or after you - maybe they'd like to share decorations with you? Or maybe just the cost of set-up and take down when it comes to lighting or ceiling decoration.  No one says your wedding decor has to be exactly the same as the other couple, but if you're paying someone to hang lights and sheeting from the ceiling of your venue, maybe the couple after you could make use of it and pay for the removal of that decor?  Or, if you're getting married in a church and have pillars, candleholders and/or floral arrangements at the head of the aisle, maybe the couple before or after you could take advantage of those items as well purchasing some of the items to share with you as well.  You can still add you own personal touches with different coloured candles or accent flowers but the cost could be shared on those more utilitarian items.

2 - Assemble Them Yourself

So often, the cost to assemble a centrepiece is the bulk of the purchase price - why do you think IKEA furniture costs so little!  Absolutely, you're paying for the expertise, precision and professionalism when someone else assembles it for you but if your centerpiece is more of a simple and gorgeous design, you may consider buying the various pieces and assembling it yourself. Consider a bunch of peonies in a mason jar tied with a raffia ribbon?  Maybe inexpensive glass vases with beach stones, shells and water, with a floating candle on top?  Gorgeous and creative ideas you can assemble yourself.

3 - Create it, Bake it or Preserve it

What about combing your centerpiece into a decorative statement for your reception table as well as the placecards and party favours for your guests? We've seen some couples preserve their summer farm market bounty into beautiful little jars of jam, complete with guests names on little tags, along with encouragement to the guests that the jars go home with them at the end of the day.  Or picture frames with photos of the Bride and/or Groom posing with guests - a great way to decorate the place settings while specifying where the guests should sit. You could also bake your Grandmothers famous chocolate chip cookies, fill personalized bags adorned with your guests name, your names and the date of your wedding.

Saving money on your wedding will definitely take some creativity, an openness to make some compromises and take a little extra time...but staying within your budget while creating your perfect day, will totally be worth it.

MODwedding

 

DIY Floral Parasol

If you have a flower girl that is just starting to walk or is nervous about walking down the aisle, you might consider making her a floral parasol. It is super cute and lightweight. Even if she gets nervous and hides her face behind the parasol, it will still make a super cute picture!




Full tutorial here. Pictorial instructions below.










Afloral.com