A LIL' BIT OF FRESH N' FAB
STYLE SHOOT SPRING 2011

Spring in Toronto was well...not very Spring-like. In fact it was pretty drab and dreary. So back in March when This Planner ventured to do a Style Shoot for Spring 2011, I chose a colour palette and concept that, to me, felt fresh, funky and fabulous and that I knew would chase the Un-Spring-like blues of any Bride away.

And so I set up camp at the ever-so-funky and totally versatile Berkeley Event Centre. Keeping "elegance meets a bit of funk" in mind I opted to pair vibrant lime green with black for boldness and used geometric shaping in the table decor to add that bit of structure. Careful to not go too brash however, Sherwin from Petals and Twigs and I chose to work with gorgeous cymbidium orchids and frosted candlesto bring the 'elegance' into the vision.




And then there were the fish. To keep the ambiance lighthearted and fresh we added a playful, surprise element to the table -- two Black Morrow goldfish swimming about front and center. (NOTE: no fish were harmed in the making of this Style Shoot. In fact, they are now the well-loved pets of my 2 year old son)



For a unique take on menus and favours I decided to combine the two., I created Menu Cubes which displayed the courses on each side of the cube. Inside, the cube offered a tasty treat as a takeaway.



And of course there was the attire. The fabulous thing about the overall concept of this shoot was that the Bride had endless possibilities for attire -- sophisticated, edgy or elegant she would fit right in with her surroundings. Which was great as I had trouble deciding between the two gowns!

This suave gown from The Brides Project is my favourite gown at the shoot. It was absolutely unique as it was redesigned from a completely out-of-date gown by a faculty member at Ryerson University. Pair it up with a super cute fascinator by Absolutely Fascinating and voila!


Another gown from The Brides Project offered elegance but a hint of fun as well. The corseted center was made with sheer, beaded fabric creating a playful "peek-a-boo" look!


Last, but definitely not least, the cake designed by Cakes by Andy, beautifully kept in line with the geometrics in the concept and its creative floral designs add a hint of elegance.



PARTICIPATING WEDDING PROFESSIONALS:

Creative Design & Concept: Et Lofte Events
Location & Seating: Berkeley Event Centre
Florals/TableTop Decor: Petals and Twigs
Linens/Napkins: Around the Table

Wedding Cake: Cakes by Andy
Menu Cubes: Et Lofte Events
Black Charger Plates: Cry If I Want To
Silverware: Birks
Wedding Gowns: The Brides Project
Fascinators: Absolutely Fascinating

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER THREAD...

Love it or hate it, it will definitely set this Bride apart from others....

What do you think?

SWEET SWEETS CAKE ART
SERVES UP 5 TOTALLY SWEET TIPS
FOR UNIQUE EVENT DESSERTS


All photos courtesy of Sweet Sweets Cake Art

Designing the edible is a work of art that takes precision, patience and a whole lot of creativity in order to pull off something that's not just unique but that tastes good too!

Ida Thibeh Wiese, owner of the delish and exquisitely decorative Sweet Sweets Cake Art, greatly emphasizes that Personalization is one of the most important ways to make your sweets stand out from the rest.

"Adding small touches creates a huge impact that is both meaningful and everlasting" she says, "For example, for a client's wedding cake I wrapped the cake with a poem that the groom had written to his fiance. I had the pleasure of seeing the newlyweds at a gathering and the Groom told me that when he realized that the poem he wrote was on his wedding cake he got teary eyed".


Personalizing the wrappings of your treats like that of the Cubed Cupcakes below (now how cute are those!) is another way to personalize your edibles.



Ida also recommends breaking away from the traditional staggered three-tier cake look. She suggests adding different sizes, shapes, heights and widths to your cake to create an unusual, eye-catching look.



Another awesome idea that This Planner absolutely loves? Use props! Have fun accessorizing your sweets with different prop pieces as display stands or accents like standing a cake on a vintage suitcase or replacing your traditional dessert table with a dresser or cabinet. For additional "wow" personalize the dessert or cake table with items that mean something to you as a wedding couple, party host or guest of honour.



As a designer with a contemporary and creative eye, Ida also encourages wedding clients specifically to think outside 'the wedding box'.

"I hate to say this because it's sounds so cliche", she says, "but a true cake designer is inspired by so much more than the wedding world like invitations, flowers and dresses". Examine your surroundings, interests, nature and more to come up with some truly unique designs.


Lastly, Ida's mindset matches that of This Planner -- that there are virtually no "rules" when it comes to your personal event (or in Ida's case, when creating Art!) so never feel restricted to tradition or trend. Let loose and have some creative fun with your edible designs!

x

Ida Thibeh Wiese is the owner of Sweet Sweets Cake ART, which creates cake art pieces that are unique, contemporary, artistic and one-of-a-kind works of art that are fit for a Gallery. All cakes are baked from scratch using the highest and finest quality ingredients with no preservatives, artificial flavouring, shortening or mixes...just the real good stuff. Sweet Sweets Cake ART is passionate about its creations from meeting clients and brainstorming sketch ideas to the delivery of its creative works of art.

PETALS STEMS & LEAVES
PRESENTS FIVE 'BLOOMING'
GOOD TIPS ON MAKING
YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS UNIQUE

Flowers can be a key element in the design of a wedding and if you're striving to make your overall design unique there are a few things to keep in mind. Perhaps one of the most important things is to hire a professional. While DIY flowers (a.k.a running to your neighbourhood Costco, buying flowers in bulk and tossing them into a vase) will likely be easy on the wallet, if you're not savvy on the specifics of your desired florals not to mention how to arrange the flowers appropriately, maintain their look for hours on end or create that unique factor that you're after...well...you're more likely to be left with a simple arrangement that lacks lustre as well as some thorn pricks and a lot of frustration.

Nicole North, the uber-talented owner and designer at Petals Stems & Leaves -- a Custom Floral and Event Design Studio -- says that one thing to remember is that wedding flowers should reflect your personal style. After all, you want the flowers to make you happy right? While some couples may reflect their personal style in choosing a certain colour scheme or specific flower, others may use a central theme or a flower that rings sentiment such as "the one" that the Groom had used to propose to his Bride or that flower that always sat on Grandma's dining room table.



Nicole also encourages couples to stretch the boundaries of what is traditional -- you don't have to have what everyone else does! Let your floral designer get to know you as they'll be able to suggest flowers that will suit your taste as well as make constructive suggestions.


Colour is also one of the most important elements that affects the overall appearance and sets the tone.

"Couples need to coordinate -- but not necessarily match -- and consider all aspects of the wedding in relation to colour", Nicole explains, "Aspects such as the Season, the Bridesmaid Dresses, the linens, the cake, ceremony and reception locations and, of course, their flower choices".


With the ability to add beauty, depth and interest to even the smallest of arrangements, texture is a must and as important as colour. However Nicole advises that texture doesn't have to be focused only on the flowers. The foliage in an arrangement or even the container that holds the arrangement can create texture as well.


And last...location, location, location! Taking the location into account is of huge significance.

"I know that I've mentioned this in the colour aspect, but it's not just the colours at your location that you need to thing about", Nicole says, "Take into consideration the style of venue. For example is the location contemporary or art deco? Also consider the surroundings such as how tall the ceilings are and whether there are windows in the room".



When it comes to flowers for a wedding the possibilities are endless. Whether your personal style is sophisticated and elegant or funky and wild, flowers can accentuate the little details and aid in carrying through the overall ambiance from the ceremony to the bouquet toss.







Petals, Stems & Leaves is a Custom Floral and Event Design Studio founded by Head Designer Nicole North. Her passion and dedication has earned Petals, Stems & Leaves the reputation of being the best of the best. Nicole and her team create distinctive and imaginative events that easily incorporate into any setting and make your event truly memorable. www.petalsstemsandleaves.com

A FEW WEDDING THINGS
WE HEART RIGHT NOW
(FASHION EDITION)

Support for those flying solo at The Bridal Shop...



While having a gaggle of opinions thrown at you about your chosen wedding gown (or any formal dress really) by your Bridesmaids, friends and family may seem overwhelming to some, having to make a decision about the dress all on your own can make you want to crouch in the corner of the dressing room and cry. Enter Fashism.com -- a super duper cool site that lets you upload a photo of yourself in your selected dressing room garment, add a question and get answers from online users (read: unbiased strangers!) who will tell you whether they like it or hate it.



Grooms who let their personality shine = pure awesomeness...



There's nothing more awesome than when a Groom puts his sneakered foot down and just says "NO!" to traditional wedding attire. If you're unsure as to what we're referring to, we're talking about the same old black tux, tie and vest. Whether it's going with a collarless suit, formal meets informal jeans, bold coloured ties and accessories or going sans suit altogether, This Planner personally hearts men who take their Bride's lead and let their personalities customize their wedding attire.




Supportive Garments. Because no one wants boob-rolls...



Gals, you know what I'm talking about. Those unsightly rolls at the bustline that can make any Bride feel all blubbery inside. Shapeez provides an awesome solution to this problem with its 'Ultimate Long' shaper that prevents rolls at the bustline (and shapes your torso as well...Bonus!)



Il Vestito Nero...Ti Amo



While it has a long way to go before it's widely accepted on the runway to wedded bliss, This Planner will forever love shunning the Queen's personal style and welcoming with open arms the sexy, bold and beautiful aura of the black wedding dress.




Pumps with Personality...



Way back in the day, a Bride who wore her sneakers or her army boots under her gown was not only making a personal statement but was creating a fashion hoopla. Today, more and more brides are stepping away from the traditional matchy-matchy white wedding shoes and opting for more personality whether it's in their brand choice, colour selection or structural style.

DYSFUNCTIONAL DESSERTS: Break away from the ordinary Baking

Photo source: The Bleeding Heart Bakery

Cakes, cupcakes, cookies and doughnuts have been a wedding and event dessert staple for quite some time. And so to see these desserts cross over to the...er...dark side of traditional baked goods would not only be a shocker for some guests, but a refreshing change for others.

Now when we say the 'dark side of traditional baked goods', we mean it. We're talking flavours that you would never even think of combining like bacon, peanut butter and chocolate or avocado, candied rose petals and wasabi peas. Yup, you read that right.

For your next function, grab some totally brazing inspiration from these daring dessert gurus hailing from Portland, Chicago and, of course, New York City, and challenge your caterer or cake designer to come up with their own badass flavours and concepts.

ET LOFTE LOVES:
Bleeding Heart Bakery in Chicago

Bleeding Heart is the ultimate badass in baking. Whether it's their creatively-flavoured doughnuts (think sweet potato topped with cream cheese glaze or cinnamon sprinkled with coffee beans), crafty cupcakes (like the bacon peanut butter chocolate cupcake) or super cool cakes (This Planner freaked over their tattoo cakes!), these edgy sweet-masters know how to stun.

Photos from The Bleeding Heart Bakery

Bacon Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcake

Tattoo Cake

Maple Bourbon Bacon Doughnut

ET LOFTE LOVES:

Voodoo Doughnut in Portland, Oregon

Celebrity Chef Anthony Bourdain praised this doughnut-duo for their "nonconformist" flavours. From the 'Arnold Palmer' (a vanilla doughnut sprinkled with a lemonade or iced tea dusting), 'Double Bubble' (a vanilla iced doughnut with bubble gum dusting and a bubble gum on top) and 'Maple Bacon Bar' ('nuff said) to their signature 'Voodoo Doll' (a raspberry filled doughnut covered in chocolate frosting and served on a pretzel stake), these guys are cursed with raw talent.

Photos from Voodoo Doughnut

Captain My Captain Doughnut

Bacon Maple Bar

Voodoo Doll

ET LOFTE LOVES:
'The Carnival' from Abe & Arthur's in NYC

This uber chic restaurant in New York City catered by Executive Chef Franklin Becker has been highlighted in the press for it's famous dessert, 'The Carnival'. Warm ricotta doughnuts and cinnamon funnel cake chunks are set in a Ferris-wheel-like stand and paired up with strawberry and caramel filling. Guests can either dip their donuts or create their own doughnut holes with their choice of filling. This Planner fell head over heels for this concept as it would be an incredibly interactive (not to mention delicious!) dessert option for a table of guests to share and enjoy.

Photo Source: Abe and Arthur's Restaurant

Designers and Culinary Professionals alike are coming up with creative and favourable concepts every day. Rather than play it safe, become a dessert delinquent and offer your guests an opportunity to get daring with their dessert.