Love Actually {Keigi & Rodger}

How to put together a Wedding Planning Notebook

Post from http://justlovelykatherine.blogspot.ca/2012/06/www-how-to-put-together-wedding.html

 I love lists. Lists for everything! There is something so satisfying in making a to-do list and marking it off as you accomplish tasks. Don't you agree?! I also need to have a tangible, in-my-hands planning tool in order to stay organized. I put together this Wedding Planning Notebook so that I could have everything in one place. After doing some research, I've added in lists, forms, and lots of things I had no idea I would need for planning our wedding! (The printables will link back to their original source)

I purchased all my products from the Martha Stewart office line. If you don't want to make your own planner, as I did, Martha has a pre-made planner for just $25. (I spent more than that on the binder, dividers, etc.) I got all my things from Staples, and they are beautifully color coordinated and pretty! I bought the binder, clear zip pouch, sticky notes, dividers (x2) and calendar.

 Now of course you can organize your binder however best suits you, but here is how I organized mine, what I have put in it, what I'm going to be adding to each section and how I plan to use it.

First up, the clear zip pouch I have used for fabric samples, business cards, etc. The sticky notes are for, well, notes (duh!) and I've used the little tabs for making additional sections by putting them on pieces of hole-punched card stock to serve as subcategories within the blue dividers.

After this I have the calendar. I do obviously have a colander on my computer (that is synced with my iPhone) but I like to have an actual paper & pen calendar too. (edit: I haven't actually been using this. I'd suggest you save your money.) I think this helps with long term planning. I will have dress fittings, cake testings, etc on here, but more importantly deadlines! I want to keep track of when payments are due, contracts have to be signed and final decisions made.

After that I have 10 blue dividers. I have broken them down into these categories:

1. Important 
2. Budget
3. Ceremony
4. Reception
5. Guests
6. Attire
7. Photographer
8. Florist
9. Rehearsal
10. Miscellaneous. 

Within these categories I have added subcategories and worksheets and checklists that I printed from the web.

1. Important - 
• Vendor Contact List
• Wedding Party Contact Sheet
• Family Contact Sheet
• Wedding Day Emergency Kit checklist 
• Your Planning Timeline & Checklist (from 16-9 months before all the way to the week of the wedding)
• Timeline for wedding day
• Checklist of everything to be brought to the ceremony and reception, and who is to bring it.
2. Budget
• Your Wedding-Budget Worksheet
• (This gives suggested percentages for each aspect of the wedding)
• (I will be keeping an excel sheet on the computer as well for what has been spent)
• Splitting the Wedding Tab - A guideline for divvying up the costs of the big day
3. Ceremony
• Copy of Ceremony text
• What to Ask Your Wedding Officient
• List of processional & recessional order
• Contracts
• Officiant contact information
• Cost & tips
• Music to be played and any musicians contracts, contact info and fees
• Decor
• Any seating arrangements and reserved seating 
• Program
• Confetti 
• (Clearly all these items won't actually be going in the binder, but I will put the order forms, receipts, etc in there to make sure I keep track of it all and that I have completed it all.)
4. Reception
• Timeline of reception (dance, cake cutting, toasts, flower toss, exit, etc)
• Music
• Rentals (separate subcategory) w/ contract (see bottom for link to template) 
• Decor
• Setup info and instructions
• Menu
• Beverage List
• Playlist with noted special songs (1st dance etc)
• List of who will be giving toasts
• List of people to thank at reception
• Favors
• Cake
• Guest Book
• Photo booth (if we end up having one!)
• Exit sparklers
• Reserved seat signs
• Toasting glasses
• Band contact information, pricing, tips etc
• All relevant contracts
5. Guests
• Guest list (I will probably do all this in a  spreadsheet)
• Mailing address
• RSVPs
• Dinner choices
• Gifts received list
• Thank you notes sent
• Guest hotel information
• Welcome bags
6. Attire
• Bride
• Schedule of fittings etc (this is redundant, but I want it here too) 
• Dress
• Jewelry
• Bag
• Shoes
• Lingerie
• Veil
• Groom
• Bridesmaids
• Dresses
• Accessories
• Groomsmen
• MOB
• Ring Bearer
7. Photographer 
• Contract
• Must-have photo list
• List of everyone needed for photos - break this down into names (i.e. Courtney, MOH)
• Any props (Don't think we will have any)
8. Florist
• Contract
• Pricing & budget
• List of arrangements for Ceremony
• List of arrangements for Reception
• List of bouquets
• List of boutonnieres 
• Flowers for family members
9. Rehearsal
• Contracts - venue
• Decorations
• Caterer contract & menu 
• Vendor contact list
• Rehearsal Dinner planning checklist (with timeline)
• Rentals
10. Misc...
 
• Honeymoon planning checklist
• Transportation
• Gifts (from Bride & Groom)
• Registry info
• Registry checklist
• Bridal luncheon plans
• Best Man and MOH duties checklists

Everything I Do (I do it for you) | {Catherine and Steve}

Church; Birks 3520 University St 

Transportation:  Giovanni

Hair: Streaks 

Florist: La Vie en Fleurs 

Photographer: Dominic Ilanganathan 

Video: Arthur Cormon

Reception: Holiday Inn La Plaza 

Entertainment; Shine Productions

FINDING “THE ONE”…YOUR WEDDING DRESS.

December 22, 2011 By WPIC 

By: Amy Maier, WPICC

FINDING “THE ONE”

I managed a bridal salon for almost 6 years, so I consider myself somewhat of an expert in the area of wedding gowns.  During this time, I had the privilege of helping hundreds of brides find “the one”.  I LOVE to go wedding gown shopping with my brides because there is nothing better than seeing a bride light up when she puts on the gown she is going to walk down the aisle in.

Wedding gown shopping can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially for those brides that do not enjoy shopping (GASP! Yes…there are people who do not love shopping; I am as shocked as you.) Thanks to the plethora of reality shows out there on weddings and wedding gown shopping (which I PVR weekly and watch while eating various fried and sugary foods in my sweatpants) brides seem to think they need to cry, faint or have a religious epiphany before they commit to a dress.

 “HOW DO I KNOW THIS IS THE ONE? WHAT IF I MAKE THE WRONG DECISION? WHAT IF I SEE ONE IN A MONTH I LIKE BETTER? WHAT IF I LOSE WEIGHT?” ARGAHHHHHHHHHHH!

All great questions. Allow me….

• How do I know this is “the one”?

I often tell brides that shopping for a wedding gown is like shopping for a sweater.  Just a much heavier, prettier, more expensive sweater…. It has been my experience that most brides tend to over think and over complicate wedding gown shopping. Looking online at 300,000 dresses before you even set foot in a store is not how you find a wedding gown. I don’t know about you but I am not a 6ft, size 2 model (if you are then I’m sorry we cannot be friends) and looking at a gown on the aforementioned supermodel, do you really think you will be able to tell what it will look like on you? Wedding gowns are unlike any other piece of clothing you have had on, so get your fabulous butt into a bridal salon, get yourself a good consultant (or your wedding coordinator to go with you!) and just start trying things on!

- Do you feel beautiful?

- Is it in budget?

- Do you love everything about it?

If the answer to all three of these questions is yes…ask yourself, “Why am I hesitating?”

• What if I make the wrong decision?

If you trust your own opinion you will not make the wrong decision.  That is all.

• What if I see one in a month I like better?

Wedding gowns are like everything out there, there are new, different ones coming out all the time. As my very wise, fellow bridal consultant Janice says “Buying a gown is like buying a car, once you put the money down you stop looking, be happy with what you choose and drive the one you bought.”  .  If you keep looking after you purchase a gown you will drive yourself (and more than likely everyone around you) crazy.

• What if I lose weight?

More than likely you don’t even need to lose weight, this is some weird pressure all brides put on themselves. If I had a quarter for every bride who told me they wanted to lose 20lbs I could buy that Prada bag I have had my eye on. PLEASE buy your gown for the size you are now, if you lose weight then you take the dress in. Do you really want to stress out for 6 months about your weight while waiting for your gown to arrive? I would much rather have that giant piece of cheesecake at dinner thank you very much.

Shopping for a wedding gown should be a stress free experience full of laughs (sometimes tears) fun, and excitement. No matter your size, shape, budget or style there is a gown out there for you, I promise!

Amy Maier owns Head Over Heels in Edmonton, Alberta.  She is a certified wedding coordinator through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada and has been in the bridal industry for more than six years as the manager of one of Edmonton’s largest bridal salons. Amy’s professional background outside the wedding industry is in purchasing and cost control which makes her a very well rounded event planner. She is also trained in conflict resolution management…which can come in very handy!

Clinical Rotation: Administering Medication

        I was so eager to be able to administer medication for my patient last Thursday, however my son fell ill and I needed to nurse him instead.  I was able to be present at clinical on Friday.  Despite being busy or tired as a full-time student and a full-time mom, I must say that the experience as a mother is beneficial during clinical.  Having patience, empathy and being nurturing towards our patients is what they need, while still encouraging independence to do things on their own.  Since we only have one patient for now, it is a lot easier to give all our focus and concentration on that one person.   I observe or assist my fellow classmates with their patients as well, and look forward to being capable of handling more by the time we graduate.

 

        My patient is a stroke patient on tube-feeding through a peg.  She was persistent in asking to eat and drink early in the morning. I explained to her how she was receiving all her nutrients straight to her stomach.  I had to repeat myself, more than a dozen times, that she was restricted from having anything by mouth because she has trouble swallowing.  She did not understand why her medication was administered through the tube either.  We all want to prevent her from aspiration or pneumonia, until she passes her swallowing assessment test.  Her loss of short-term memory also prevents her from remembering whatever I have explained.  After breakfast, I bathed her in bed and groomed her afterwards.  Again, I find this part of the head to toe assessment fairly easy since I am always bathing a little one who cannot yet do so on his own.  I brushed her hair afterwards and did oral care.  My patient expressed how much she liked it because nobody brushes her hair.  I don’t know if she just doesn’t remember but I’m glad I did that little thing for her.  I asked was what colour of lipstick she used to wear – and she replied “red” and then laughed that she was an old lady now.  I handed her crossword puzzles after sitting her up in a chair and told her I would return to her in a little while.  Even though she is a ninety-three year old woman with a CVA, atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, I think about how I would want to be cared for, or how I want my mother or my sister to be treated like.   My compassion for her was given--- all before I even found out that she has no children, no family nor friends to visit.   I am looking forward to the following clinical day next Thursday.           

Filipino Traditions: Candle, Coin, Veil, and Cord

Filipino Traditions: Candle, Coin, Veil, and Cord

Filipino Kasal kasal (kas´al) n. wedding

The Philippines is a country rich in traditions that were originally introduced by Spanish missionaries. At a traditional, Filipino wedding, many sponsors are present to witness the union of the couple. The sponsors symbolize guidance and support: a group of individuals that the couple can refer to in time of need.

The candle, arrhae (coins), veil, and cord are four traditions routinely witnessed during a Filipino wedding. Filipinos feel strongly about their heritage and actively incorporate their traditions into their weddings.
The whole wedding thus takes just a little bit longer, and a few more participants are required, but it certainly makes for a more memorable wedding day!

Candle 
The candle represents two families joining together as the bride and groom start their new life together as one.

Coins or Arrhae (ar-rah-heh) n. earnest money
The ceremony of the Arrhae represents the groom’s dedication to the welfare of the bride. It signifies the bride and groom’s mutual hope for wealth, prosperity, and security as they build their lives and family together. The metal tinkling of thirteen coins being passed from one pair of hands to the other signifies abundance and success in the couple’s joint efforts.

Veil
The veil is a symbol of the faithful and everlasting love the bride and groom have for each other. Through the passing of the years, it will remind them that they belong to each other, and that their love becomes more beautiful in self-surrender that are total and pure.

The Veil Sponsors will pin the veil from the groom’s shoulders extending to cover the bride’s head and shoulders. It also symbolizes unity of the two families into one.

Cord 
The cord symbolizes the love and friendship that bind the couple together, and the figure eight shape represents the infinite nature of matrimony.

The Cord Sponsors will drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord) over their shoulders.

Ninang and Ninong * Godmother and Godfather
These are women and men whom the bride and groom respect & admire. They are, as in the early days of the Church, sponsors of the couple attesting to their readiness for marriage and freedom to marry.

These are often aunts and uncles or close friends of the family. In the Philippines, they are the official witnesses of the state and they sign the marriage license. Worldwide, their participation is a tremendous honor and symbolic of the wisdom & support they shall offer the new couple. The number of sponsors can vary from a single couple to many couples.