Malibu Rum has come up with a super cute limited edition bottle called Malibu By U. The bottle is stark white and comes with four Caribean-inspired coloured markers so that you can colour, draw or glue on anything you like to make these bottles unbelievably cool and, well...you!
If you want to test out your design before committing it to the bottle, visit www.malibu-rum.com/byu to digitally design your bottle.
Use these personally decorated bottles to dress up patio tables, use them as vases for festive and fun floral arrangements or even as a fun alternative to a traditional guestbook for a tropical themed celebration. Oh, and don't forget to use the rum inside for tropical punches, home BBQs and more!
IS YOUR EVENT PREPARED FOR THE G20 SUMMIT?
The Canadian Government has chosen Toronto as the location of the G20 Summit on Saturday, June 26th and Sunday, June 27th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Never before have two summits been held on the same weekend and that said, this will present unique challenges to those planning an event for that weekend.
Making preparations to ensure that your wedding or event will not be affected is a must-do. This is especially true for those weddings and events happening in the downtown core of Toronto. Below is some updated information on the summit and the areas affectedso that you can make arrangements long before your event date.
WALK THIS WAY...OR MAYBE NOT
The vehicle and pedestrian traffic around the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be controlled as it’s considered a Security Zone. Fencing will be erected around the area and the public should be able to move freely in that area until the evening of Friday, June 25 after which anyone who lives and works in this area will have a Registration Card for quick and easy access through security checkpoints. Those who do not have a Registration Card/live/work in that area but require access to this area will have to present a piece of photo ID that clearly shows the specific purpose as to why they need access and their exact destination.
WHEN THE STREETS WILL SEEM LIKE PARKING LOTS
Roadways within the area – bordered by King Street, Yonge Street, Queens Quay and Spadina Avenue – will have closures or restrictions. Anyone living, working or having a specific reason for being in this area won’t be denied access but it will take some time to get through…in other words, be sure to pack a lot of patience!
During the weekend of the Summit, the police obviously anticipate major traffic disruption in all areas especially the 400-series highways, the Gardiner Expressway, the QEW and Lakeshore Boulevard and there may be some restrictions placed on Highway 427 and the Gardiner Expressway to accommodate motorcades and the York, Bay and Yonge Street exits on the eastbound Gardiner Expressway will be closed on Sunday June 27th.
G20-TIP: Allot for extra time for travel to and from your event (if in the downtown core allot for an extra hour of travel time at minimum and for those outside the downtown core allot for an extra 40 minutes of travel time). Also, map out alternative routes to all your destinations as a back-up plan! This includes allotting extra time for vendor deliveries and services.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Thinking of taking public transit instead? Or having guests arriving by Via Rail?
The TTC will operate regular service during the G20 Summit. There are no planned restrictions to the subway and only a few surface routes will be affected that weekend. The 6 Bay ,72A Pape will be on diversion and the 97B Yonge and 503 streetcar routes will be on diversion as well. The 509 and 510 streetcars will not be stopping at Queens Quay station.
Union Station will be open but from the evening of Friday, June 25 to Sunday, June 27th exits to Front Street will not be available. Travelers will have to use the east or west side exits at Union Station and the Blue Route between Union Station and the Air Canada Centre will be open as well. During this weekend, since no vehicle traffic will be permitted on Front Street, west of Bay Street , a temporary “Kiss and Ride” and “Taxi Stand” will be located on Front Street EAST of Bay Street.
Via Rail will operate its regular train schedule for the period of Saturday, June 2t to Sunday, June 27 however they advise that those planning to travel to or from Toronto during this period should expect delays.
G20 -TIP:Register for TTC E-Alerts on www.ttc.ca to be kept in the loop of any further changes. Keep an eye on www.viarail.ca and www.gotransit.com for updates as well. If it is possible for guests to reach your event by TTC, send a note to them explaining the transportation challenges and encourage this means of travel with specific subway directions coming from the East, West and North.
PARKING
From Friday, June 25 to Sunday, June 27, parking in the downtown area – especially the area surrounded by Queen Street, Yonge Street, Lakeshore Boulevard and Spadina Avenue – will be a massive pain in the neck. There will be extremely limited to no parking available on the majority of the streets in the area. Also, there will be no parking on streets that have been closed to accommodate parades or protests.
Those already inconvenient No Parking, No Standing and No Stopping signs on the streets of Toronto will be strictly enforced as well, resulting in vehicles being tagged and/or towed.
G20-TIP:inform those vendors making deliveries for your event of the parking restrictions in your area! Have a discussion with your venue as to alternative means of parking/unloading. Perhaps they can arrange for a staff member to act as a valet or stand by each vendor's vehicle while they unload in the event that parking enforcement arrives and the vehicle must be moved). Be sure to inform guests of the inaccessibility to parking and encourage them to take public transit!
PROTESTS
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of thought, belief, opinion, expression and peaceful assembly.
In other words, expect protests during the weekend of the Summit.
Be aware that North Queen’s Park has been assigned as the Designated “Speech Area” which will be equipped with audio-visual equipment which will televise any activity at the Park to the delegates at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Hopefully people will take advantage of this area and express themselves in a peaceful way rather than popping up in the most inconvenient of locations. What does that mean for you? Expect traffic delays or interference in and around Queen’s Park.
FERRY
The Integrated Security Unit for the G20 Summit will attempt to avoid impact on the day-to-day operations of the ferry and those living or working on the Toronto Islands. But be aware that from the morning of Friday, June 25th until Monday, June 28th, the Onigara Ferry (the ferry that runs specifically to Ward Island) will not be in operation and so anyone travelling on this Ferry will be joining the public on the passenger ferries.
G20-TIP:To get more information about how the G20 will affect your big day including proposed security, safety plans, road restrictions and more, visit these nifty little sites:
The wedding cake is viewed by many couples as a staple in the wedding reception. Whether it's one tier or five, it's rare to not see a wedding cake or something equally symbolic (cupcakes anyone?) at a wedding. For some, the cutting of the cake is a relished tradition. For others, it's a moment that they feel simply delays the launch of the "party".
When deciding whether or not to incorporate the tradition of the cutting of the cake (or to have a wedding cake at all for that matter), first understand the history and symbolism associated with it.
So what started it all? During the Roman Empire, the wedding cake was actually a loaf of barley from which the Groom would take a bite, then break the rest over the Bride's head. Yup, you heard that right! This apparently symbolized the breaking of the Bride's virginity. Once the bread was broken over the Bride's head, the guests would collect any crumbs that had fallen to the ground. This was due to the belief that the crumbs that fell from the Bride's head ensured fertility. Thankfully this tradition and the symbolism of breaking bread over the Bride's noggin didn't last beyond the Roman Empire.
From the 17th century and moving into the 19th century, the "Bridal Pie" was common. This was often a mince or mutton pie with a glass ring buried within the filling. Tradition states that the woman who found the glass ring within the pie would be the next to wed. Eventually, the Bridal Pie gave way to "Bridal Cakes" which were single-tiered and white (to symbolize purity). Also, white icing required the most refined of sugars and therefore the "whiter" the cake, the higher in stature the Bride's family was.
It is believed that the multi-tiered cake as we know it today drived from English royalty. The first top "tiers" were dummy cakes made of sugar as the density of real cake tiers would merely sink into the bottom cake. Eventually these dummy tiers graduated to real cake held up by pillars. Then, as cake bakers became wise to methods of holding cake tiers up sans pillars, the tiered cake as we know it today emerged.
So what about the act of "Cutting the Cake"? This symbolizes the first task that the Bride and Groom will do together as husband and wife. The Bride and Groom take hold of the knife and slice and plate the cake together. Then the Bride and Groom would feed each other the slice of cake, symbolizing their committment to love and provide for each other.
So now that you know the history and symbolism behind the Wedding Cake...is it right for you? If you're game for the symbolism but want to spare yourself the cost of a multi-tiered cake, the popularity of cupcakes or just want something a little different, consider these fun alternatives:
Why should little kids get all the fun? These hollow shells of chocolate, shaped, decorated and filled with candies are "smashed" with a mallet by the Bride and Groom. The candies can double as a wedding favour by providing the guests with cute little bags with which to help themselves to the candy!
Why not draw on tradition at its best and cut a slice of pie baked with love by Grandma or your favourite Aunt or heck, even the Bride and Groom? Pies are also a tasty alternative for guests to enjoy with the late night table.
PUDDING
Photo courtesy of fotobank.ru
Who doesn't love chocolate, vanilla or butterscotch pudding? Fill champagne flutes or martini glasses with flavoured pudding and stack them into tiers. The Bride and Groom toast each other with a flute then serve each other a spoonful of pudding. Any pudding fans in the crowd can then help themselves to a glass of pudding for a sweet treat.
Missing that sweet tooth or totally health conscious? Consider tiered fruit arrangements from which the Bride and Groom feed each other a piece of fruit. And, of course, guests are welcome to feed off the arrangement afterwards!
If you like the symbolism but hate making it a momentous occasion within your reception, consider these fun yet subtle gestures in its stead:
CHAMPAGNE TOAST
Photo courtesy of jerseyrestaurants.co.uk
This is most often conducted by the Best Man at receptions anyhow, so why not use it to its fullest meaning? The Bride and Groom help each other "pop" open a bottle of champagne, fill each other's flute then toast each other and sip their champagne.
If spaghetti happens to be the first dinner course (although this would work for any course), why not kick off dinner with a romantic gesture? Place one end of a single string of pasta in each of your mouths and nibble on it until you're joined in a kiss. Super cute and a brilliant photo op, this gesture can also take guests back to their youth when they first saw the movie.
No, we don't mean the tradition of breaking bread over the Bride's noggin! If the venue or caterer allows, the Bride and Groom can bake a favourite type of bread together prior to the wedding and have it served to the guests tables in lieu of the venue's usual bread baskets. Include a small note on the basket of homemade bread letting the guests know that the Bride and Groom baked it together with love. While it isn't necessarily the first task as husband and wife, it still symbolizes the couple working together now and forever.
As you have seen through the eyes of history, the "Cutting of the Cake" is simply tradition, not an absolute rule. That said, if the cutting of the cake isn't for you, never feel that you're committing a sin for not including it in your wedding plans.After all, personalizing your wedding is just that -- personalizing it so that it is a reflection of the two of you as a couple. Therefore feel free to play with traditions or omit them completely to make your wedding...well, "you".
At times I encounter clients who feel somewhat distressed over their chosen venue for their wedding or event. They have picked a venue that they feel is the best fit for their needs in terms of budget, location and (of course, the most important factor) the quality and style of food.
So what's the problem? The said venue is quote: "a typical banquet hall" -- bland, boring, perhaps outdated...just no 'oomph'.
So how do you take a venue like this and make it unique, stylish and, well, you? Apply The Little Black Dress Theory.
Think of your venue as the classic little black dress: a solid canvas that can be dressed up or down with the right accessories. That said, your standard venue can be anything you want it to be with the right additions.
Outfitting your chairs in beautiful coloured covers can turn your standard banquet chairs from weary to wow. Stretch covers can give your chaise a sleek, sophisticated appearance while wraps, brocade and ballroom covers add flowing elegance. Add a sash, band or tuck a flower into the cover's folds for a splash of colour. Not feeling the whole cover-your-chair bit? Replacing the chairs altogether with stylish chair rentals such as Chiavari chairs, Ghost chairs and more, will instantly transform your tables. When choosing linens, don't feel limited to solid cotton or satin linens and overlays. Play with bold patterns, intricate designs and more. You would be surprised how dramatically a room can change from the simple (yet strategic!) use of linens and chairs.
Banquet halls are synonymous with round tables but there's nothing holding you to that shape. A mixture of round, square and rectangular guest tables add dimension. And why should the 'Head Table' get all the fun? Adding a series of risers along the walls and placing a few guest tables on them creates bold height definition (just be sure to include steps for any guests you seat on risers and ensure those guests don't have mobility issues!). Rather than opt for the standard jumble of tables, place all your tables in one large circle, figure eight them (with the 'Head Table' at its centre) or place rectangular tables in one large, adjoined rectangle.
Centre your 'Head Table' among guests or distribute your guests-of-honour to separate Bistro-style tables set on risers at different heights to change up the boring 'Head-table-at-the-front-of-the-Room' look.
Forgo banquet tables and chairs altogether and implement comfort furniture such as couches, coffee tables, benches, bar stools and bar tables, armchairs, ottomans and yes, depending on the event's formality, even bean bag chairs!
When used properly, lighting can dramatically change not just the venue but the entire mood of an event. There are numerous lighting options out there ranging from the budget-friendly to the luxurious. It's all in how you light it up.
Uplighting walls and drapery with coloured Gobos can instantly transform a venue's perimeter. Whether your look if soft and pretty or bold and funky, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) have the ability to mix colours and can illuminate everything from walls, ceilings, tables and bars. Pinspots can highlight centerpieces and specific focal-points for effect. Underlighting (most often seen at 'Head Tables') can provide drama for your guest tables when strategically placed under just a few.
Dress up your dance floor...literally! While lighting can add ambiance, gone are the days where a monogram Gobo lit up the tiles. Nowadays, you can literally dress up your dance floor with lightweight covers in your theme design. Whether adorned with a monogram, logo, photograph, pattern or even simply in a specific shade and design, companies such as Dance Floor Decor in Toronto provide a thin covering that adheres to the dance floor -- instantly dressing it up with some pizazz. At the end of the night, simply peel off the covering like a Post-It note!
The right draping -- whether heavy, satin, lightweight or sheer -- can instantly add texture to any room. Ceiling swags give a stylish 'whoosh' to high ceilings while strategically placed and designed draping along the walls can elegantly accessorize bland walls.
Does the colour of the walls at your venue contrast with your colour scheme? Draping -- albeit at times a costly measure depending on the size of your venue -- can hide unsightly walls and present beautifully textured perimeters instead.
IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS DAHLIN'
Putting a unique spin on traditional elements of an event -- whether they are guestbooks, wedding cakes, favours, seating arrangements, etc -- will draw focus to them and away from the room itself. Add additional focal points such as stylish and interactive food stations or specialized entertainment such as a dance floor troupe or cultural performance, strategically place blown-up photographs related to the guests-of-honour around the venue for attendees to view while they sip cocktails, hang coloured Chinese paper lanterns (or for a unique twist, hang large-scale Origami!) from the ceiling, project a different silent video montage on each of the walls...the possibilities are endless! Getting creative with the "little" details will again, draw attention to the right elements and add flavour to any area that you feel is...well...tasteless.
Now, I'm not saying that all banquet halls are bland and boring. There are some absolutely stunning banquet halls out there. But let's be honest shall we? We've all encountered those venues that provide impeccable quality in food and service but at the same time make us want to gouge our eyes out in terms of appearance.
If the venue that you have chosen has everything you could ask for -- except personality -- the key is to look at it as you would view your little black dress: a timeless piece that we can instantly update and, with the right accessories, become instant va-va-voom!
Here are just a few things that as a wedding planner I'm totallylovin' right now...
GRANNY'S BRIDAL BOOTS!
Bright coloured wedding heels? Done. Bringing back vintage class? Brilliant!
Whether they're Bridal-Bliss white or doused in vibrant colour like red and pink, Granny boots are not just a chic alternative to the classic white pump but are also a fun, edgy pair of kicks that you can wear again and again long after the wedding.
RINGS OF HOPE: GIFTS THAT JUST KEEP ON GIVING
As a thank you to your bridal buds, give something that they'll not only cherish as a memento of your big day but they'll feel good wearing too! The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's Rings of Hope, designed by Delavaux Jewelry, come in a variety of gorgeous styles. Priced at $39.99, a whopping $20 goes directly to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
Yes, wedding ceremonies and cocktail hours seem to be synonymous with string quartets, harpists and pianists (even solo guitarists are becoming a huge trend). But why go for the ordinary when you can walk down the aisle to the smooth, sexy sound of a saxophone? Think slow and soulful as you stroll down the white carpet and sophisticated, cool jazz during the cocktail hour. Loving it yet? Us too!
YELLOW & TURQUOISE: BRIDAL AND BOLD!
Fun, vibrant and chic, yellow and turquoise adds a bit of everything to any occasion! Whether you're going for 'sweet and charming' like this shower featured on Style Me Pretty or sophisticated and sassy, the yellow and turquoise combination provides an abundance of style options.
That slide show featuring each of you growing up and then your journey together as a couple? I bet you can count on both hands how many times you've seen that at weddings you've attended!
Think beyond stills and create a tribute that's much more engaging and doesn't force your guests to sit through a ten minute array of photographs -- do a silent video montage!
No, I'm not talking Charlie Chaplin style. Collect any videos from friends and family that capture the two of you together -- whether funny, sweet or just a glimpse -- or take some time once a month over the next year of planning to videotape yourselves doing fun (or even everyday) things. Combine those videos with a few beautiful colour and black-and-white photos of you. Play the video on-screen during dinner or the cocktail hour as a SILENT FILM and voila! A testament to the two of you that is animated, beautiful, (sometimes hilarious depending on the footage) and reality TV at its best!
Ok, button bouquets and centerpieces are no longer "unique" as they've been picking up momentum as a huge trend, but gosh darn it! I still love 'em! Quirky, colourful and super Eco-chic, button bouquets and/or centerpieces add whimsy and wit to any occasion -- especially weddings where flowers are considered a "staple".
This planner is a huge fan of all things nontraditional which is why I get excited when a bride opts for a feathered headpiece or fascinator. Whether its big and fluffy or small and colourful, feathers can add that extra "oomph" to a wedding gown or bridesmaid dress while keeping the romance and style.
I've written about these bad boys before and I'm still head over heels for them! Forget the traditional buttonierres of matching flowers for the Groom and give him something he'll be stoked to wear and will want to keep long after the Big Day is over! FrittsRosenowcreates customized bespoke buttonierres customized to pretty much any male-oriented interest out there. Ranging from $25 to $125 each (depending on the materials used), these buttonierres are not just completely original but they're a conversation piece all their own.
So this planner recently put out a call on Twitter asking fellow tweeters what they'd like to read on the Et Lofte Blog next. Wedding_Crasher posted "What do you love about [being a planner]".
While there are many things that I love about my profession, here's the point-blank answer: the creativity.
creativity (noun): Ability to produce something new through imaginative skill, whether a new solution to a problem, a new method or device, or a new artistic object or form.
Yes, taking on the challenge of, and having the ability to, make a client's lifetime vision a reality is quite rewarding. But there's nothing more rewarding to this planner than having the opportunity to get creative and produce an event that's well beyond that vision.
Now when I say "creativity" I don't mean looking for a concept in a magazine/blog/web site or taking an idea from a previous event I had done and replicating it. To me, that is not being creative. That is being inspired.
True creativity, I believe, comes from the depths of your own imagination. It's the drumming up of an innovative idea (or surpassing an existing one by largely tweaking it until it IS innovative).
It's the originality of thinking that will leave a lasting impression not just in your clients' minds but your own.
It's the ability and desire to take on the challenge of outdoing yourself with every idea you conjure up.
It's the not being limited by the same-old-same old rules or being afraid of contradiction, imbalance or being brazen in your approach to problems or ideas.
Creativity is truly the drive in my profession and what I look forward to with each and every client with whom I have the privilege of working.
