Picking MY wedding dress.

Some of you might know that I recently got engaged.  The planner turns bride - quite fun!!
SO, after watching way too many episodes of "Say Yes to the Dress" (which is a great show), I finally can go to  a wedding dress boutique and try some dresses on myself!  I didn't even wait a week after getting the ring - I'm going to try on dresses!!

I went to one of 2 strips of wedding dress stores in the Lower Mainland, and tried on a whole load of weddding dresses.  Little did I know that I had NO IDEA what I wanted!  I'm quite a decisive person, but I left the place feeling as if there was a mountain of dresses to sift through, and how the heck and I going to find "the one".  Is there a "one"?  I'm thinking about the brides that cry when they put on the wedding dress of their dreams, and I'm a bit envious!  They know exactly the one they  want, and for me...I really liked a bunch.  Prices were right...but I have to keep looking!

A month later I went to the Bridal Gallery in New West, and met Arial - who is amazing! My mother fell in love with her, and she was super helpful.  She only let me trying on 8 dresses (after that I'd max out with too much information), and I found 2 that were super.  I sat on it for a few weeks then went with my gutt and purchased the classic, beautiful silloutte dress from Alfred Sung.  I'm sooo happy!!

My dress shopping experience is over...now onto Bridesmaids dresses for my sisters!! Stay tuned!

Goal Setting & Needs Assessment

Goal Setting & Needs Assessment 

Is anybody sick of hearing the term ROI?  Well, isn’t it one of the most powerful questions you can ask in business…what is your return on investment?   Your boss always wants to know why, your stakeholders and always looking for an angle to make more money, and you need to make sure that your next event is actually achieving its goals so you can continue to do the work you have done.

A few steps in your event planning cycle that often get missed.

• Ask Yourself - Just like any other business decision you should make sure that you do some goal setting around your next event.  Ask yourself…
• Why are we doing this event again this year? – What do we need to change to make it more successful? – Do we actually have the business/clients/staff to support this celebration? – Is our business better because of this event?

• Decide - Once you have determined the answers to these questions then you need to make that “go” or “no go” decision for your event.  Identify 3 or 4 goals – funds generation, number of attendees or just overall satisfaction are some examples.  Then at this point you are free to proceed in your planning. 

• Evaluate – Take the extra step to evaluate the success after the event.  Hold a de-brief session with your stakeholders and look at the pros and cons of this event.  Take a good hard look at how your event performed and which of your goals were met or no met.  Take vigorous notes so that the next year you can use this as a starting point, and you can easily refresh yourselves on where to start.

Most importantly, having an outside person mediate this conversation can be invaluable to deciding the goals and needs of your next event.  

Best Cakes, Cupcakes & Chocolate

We LOVE sweets!

In a city full of hidden gems and delectable treats, how do you decide where to sink your sweet tooth? Here are some of the best Vancouver has to offer.

Best Cupcakes: Cupcakes by Heather & Lori – With six locations throughout the lower mainland, Heather and Lori make it easy for you to pop in for a cupcake or twelve. With names like Versace (marble cake topped with chocolate butter cream), 24 Carrot (coconut and pineapple infused carrot cake with cream cheese frosting), and Denman (chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream infused with raspberry jam; named for their first location in Vancouver) there is a cupcake to suit everyone’s taste. (http://www.cupcakesonline.com/cupcakes.php)

Best Cakes: Tartlets – If you can imagine it, Tartlets can turn it into a sweet dream. Boasting flavour combinations like Blackberry Twist (Belgium white chocolate and blackberry mousses layered between blackberry infused vanilla cake) and European Black Tie (Dutch cocoa chocolate cake lined with Belgium white chocolate and dark chocolate butter cream) Tartlet can create the ultimate cake for any event. (http://www.tartlets.ca/)

Best Chocolate: Thomas Haas – From fresh fruit to exotic nuts and spices, Thomas Haas pairs the finest chocolates with bold and addictive flavours. Try a dark chocolate Passion Fruit & Tahitian Vanilla for a sweet taste of the tropics or the Aztec, dark chocolate infused with Ancho, Arbol, and Habanero Chilies, for a kick with a hint of cinnamon. At Thomas Haas, one is definitely not enough! ( http://www.thomashaas.com/)

Best Desserts: Sutton Place Hotel There are a few locations that come to mind when I think of a great dessert location, True Confections and Death by Chocolate being at the top of my list. However, when I need the ultimate chocolate experience, I head over to the Sutton Place Hotel for the Chocoholic Buffet at Fleuri restaurant. With tables of pastries, cakes, and even build your own crepes, this is a must visit for every chocolate lover! (http://www.vancouver.suttonplace.com/Chocoholic_Buffet.htm)

~ Angela

Why Accreditation Matters when Hiring an Event Planner

“It's just a two hour dinner, how hard it can be?” Many people still think that planning an event is easy. Well, yes everyone can do this, but if you want an event that achieves your objectives and doesn’t waste money, then you should consider an accredited event planner.

Here are three reasons why education and accreditation are important when hiring an event planner these days:

- They have credibility. A planner with CSEP (Certificated Special Event professional) or EVC (Certificated Event Coordinator) destination means they have been recognized as trained professionals who are skillful and knowledgeable in their field.

- They are more resourceful. Planning an event is not just about put things together; it’s about find the right fit. Educated planners know essential concepts for organizing an event, and more importantly, they know who can do it and where to find them.

- They have passion. You wouldn’t spend money and time on a topic that you dislike. A good event planner should always be excited to learn about new trends and continue to build his/her skills and knowledge.

In this industry, experience is still the most importance thing when hiring a planner. However, as the industry grows and higher standard are set, education and accreditation are a “must-have”.

5 Tips to Choose the Right Vendor

You’re getting married – Congratulations!

Beyond the ever important questions of when & where comes, “Who’s making your cake?”, “What photographer are you going to hire?” and even “Who’s your Justice of the Peace?” In an industry where everyone knows someone, how do you know who to hire that will deliver everything to your expectations?

Does your Great Aunt Hilda have a friend whose nephew does photography on the side? Or do you absolutely HAVE to use the same Justice of the Peace as your sister who was married four years ago? In the wedding industry there are endless possibilities and you don’t have to use the referrals of your family and friends. The key part of choosing a vendor is knowing that this person will delivery everything you ask for and so much more. The way to finding that is all about building relationships.

Tip 1: Don’t be afraid to meet with multiple vendors. Sit down with Great Aunt Hilda’s friends’ nephew and see their portfolio, then meet with three other photographers. Ask them questions to ensure they see the same vision as you. By making sure you are all on the same page, you know that the end product will meet your expectations.

Tip 2: You don’t have to hire someone because your friends did. Prices change over time and with the experience of the person you’re hiring. Because someone charged $300 to bake a cake four years ago, it does not mean that by hiring the same person, you will get the same product or the same price.

Tip 3: Research, research, research! Know what else is out there. The more you know the more price savvy you will become. The more knowledge you are armed with will provide you with the most bang for your buck. It will also help you to be sure that you are getting a great quality and consistent product.

Tip 4: Be open and honest. If you don’t like a suggestion that someone makes to you tell them. If your florist suggests that you use peonies instead of roses and you don’t like the idea, tell them. Remember, you are not going to hurt their feelings by not taking a suggestion. Know what you want, listen to the suggestions and be honest about your opinions (but still be nice).

Tip 5: Like the people you’re working with. This is your special day. If your Justice of the Peace rubs you the wrong way, how will they deliver a ceremony that you will remember for years to come? If your photographer can’t get beyond their own vision, how will they see yours? The very essence of your wedding is the people that pull together all the little details to awe & wow your guests.