Our Wedding: the soundtrack

Since our wedding, we’ve had an overwhelming number of emails, texts, and face-to-face requests for the songs used throughout the day. Music is a huge part of our lives and is nearly always playing in one or more rooms in our home so we spent quite a bit of time compiling the tracks played during our ceremony and reception. I’ve compiled our selections below. Enjoy!

Ceremony | processional, signing of the registry, recessional

Music played on acoustic guitar by Mike Labelle

Free by Zac Brown Band

In Your Atmosphere by John Mayer

Reception | entrance and slideshow soundtracks, first dances

Music played by DJ Super Dave

Beggin, Modcon | wedding party entrance

Mrs. Robinson, Simon & Garfunkle | B & C entrance

Our friend Sarah created a beautiful slideshow full of many memories. She arranged the photos to follow Ben growing up, me growing up, and our adventures together.

On Top of the World, Imagine Dragons | photos of B

Tongue Tied, Grouplove | photos of C

Home, Phillip Phillips | photos of B & C

Sweet Disposition, The Temper Trap | photos of B & C

Turning Page, Sleeping at Last | first dance

My Girl, The Temptations | father-daughter dance

A Mother’s Song, T Carter | mother-son dance

This is How we do it, Montel Jordan/ Wild Ones, Flo Rida (mash-up) | wedding party/ first party song

Ho Hey, The Lumineers | second to last song

Ruby Tuesday, The Rolling Stones | last song of the night

 

Our wedding reception was one huge dance party complete with dance (& sing) offs and some pretty impressive dance moves. Thank you to every single person who was a part of it and a huge thank you to DJ Super Dave who kept the dance floor FULL the entire night. 

What music did you use/ are you planning on using for your wedding? 

(All photos are by Adrian Photography). 

wedding project [six]: string globes

This project has a back story. Last winter I had a great time collaborating and crafting from afar with my dear friend Nicole when her storefront (that would be my favourite Vancouver eco-boutique, body politic) needed a snowy-inspired window. I assembled a collection of cotton snowballs while Nicole tried her hand at mini string globes. I'm happy to report that our crafting resulted in a beautiful window display at bp (and I'm equally pleased to have received several pieces of pertinent advice from my creatively-inclined friend - Thanks Nicole!) 

Once I spotted these string globes I knew how I was going to incorporate them into our wedding: they were going to be the focal point over the dance floor. 

Cue bridesmaids, tacky glue, and mojitos.

details: 

Armed with this tutorial and Nicole's advice*, we assembled the supplies: 

- balloons

- white yarn

- Tacky Glue

- ice cream buckets

- warm water

- Vaseline 

- a shower curtain (used as a drop cloth)

I mixed the glue with warm water using the ratio of approximately 2/3 glue, 1/3 water. We blew up the balloons and covered (read: cov-ered) them in Vaseline. The yarn was then dipped into the glue-water mixture and covered until it was good and slimy. 

Here comes the messy part.

We experimented with holding the top of the balloon and the end of the string in one hand while wrapping string around the balloon with the other hand. We also tried tying the end of string TO the end of the balloon and then wrapping the string around the balloon. In any event, we determined that starting at knotted end of the balloon was the easiest. We also quickly learned that the string has to be wrapped quite tightly (the vaseline and glue will keep it in place provided it's tight enough). When we were satisfied with the string coverage we tied the end piece of string to the starting piece of string and/or the end of the balloon. 

On one occasion Angie's partially-covered balloon exploded in her face, causing Jenn to yell-scream bloody murder and vaseline and glue covered string to fly all over the wall, door, and ceiling. This was the most traumatic and the most hilarious thing to happen to us the entire weekend.  Note: vaseline is near impossible to wipe off the ceiling. 

To dry the globes, we arranged several hockey sticks (thanks, B) on chairs and hung the balloons by baker's twine, ensuring they didn't touch. Our string dripped quite a bit so I'd suggest putting a drop cloth or newspaper underneath. Before I packed them up to travel to Kelowna and again before they were hung at the reception the globes were sprayed with Tacky spray glue which really helped them keep their shape. 

The end result was a gorgeous little cluster cloud over our dance floor that reflected the light perfectly and added a fun element to the space. I'd love to try my hand at these again in the future, possibly on a smaller scale for Christmas ornaments. Big love and many thank you's to Angie, Jen, Jen, and Jenn for helping to assemble these tricky little buggers; to Mike and Amber for transporting them (only one popped!); and to my amazing all-male assembling crew of Brock, Sean, and Chris who teetered atop a ladder while this bridezilla glowing bride art directed from below. I must also thank Nicole for her seasoned advice and crafting encouragement. 

c's advice: 

The ratio of water to glue I used worked well; however, it is very important to ensure your string/ yarn is saturated before wrapping it around the balloon, otherwise as soon as the balloon is popped, the string goes limp. 

Let the string dry for longer than you think it will take the string to dry. I left mine for a couple of months (I wish I was joking).

Leave the balloons intact until they are ready to be hung. We didn't pop them until my assembly team had arranged them over the dance floor. 

*n's advice:

Use white string or yarn in lieu of a heavier string or twine as it's much easier to saturate the string if it's lighter in weight.  Otherwise, be prepared to let the string sit in the glue for a lot longer and give the globes a lot longer to dry. 

Cover all sides of the balloon (somewhat) evenly. It makes a more spherical final product. 

up next: 

Love, Love, Love.  The how-to behind the Marquee-inspired sign in the first photo. 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... Go!

Name Conversation-Starter Game

Over the last couple of weeks, my life has revolved around weddings - even more than usual. When I'm not dreaming about my clients' wedding (Justin & Marlyse are getting hitched next Saturday - July 14, 2012) I'm dreaming about my own. The latest series of panic attacks have centered on the dreaded seating chart. Who do I pair with whom? What is the perfect recipe for conversation chemistry and all around good times? These rhetorical questions continue well into the wee hours of the morning...

Fortunately I have nothing to worry about: none of our guests have issues being social. That being said, when I found the templates for Martha's Name Conversation-Starter Game, I was an instant fan. Team Martha has created the perfect, non-awkward, icebreaker for tables with assigned seating. {Visit Martha Stewart Weddings for the details & templates}.

Even though we aren't having assigned seating, I am going to attempt to fit this project onto my to do list (it must be noted that did in fact laugh out loud as I typed that). Nonetheless, I think these fact sheets would spark some awesome conversations. After all, we're friends with some pretty fantastic people.

(Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings).

reception questions

Although I'm fond of everything to do with this wedding, the blank notebooks that the couple left on each table immediately caught my attention.  Booklets containing prompting questions such as "what's your funniest memory of us?" and "what should we name our children?" were left at each table for guests to respond in and pass around.  A simple project to assemble with results I'm sure they will cherish for years to come (not to mention a great icebreaker for guests to get to know each other).




(photos by Ruettgers Photography, booklets designed by Laura Brown {the bride's sister}, wedding feature on Style Me Pretty).

Votive Design

I am so into this votive installation by Joy Thigpen (captured by Jose Villa).  It is such a unique, beautiful, and cost-effective way to incorporate depth and design to transform a space from 'every day' to 'special event.'  Visit Joy Thigpen's blog and Once Wed (here + here) for more photos from this gorgeous wedding.

(Photos by Jose Villa via Once Wed).

Jonas Peterson

My love for Jonas Peterson is no secret. I think his photography is just brilliant, each image a piece art.

His most recent wedding, recently featured on Once Wed, is nothing short of the magic he's known for. Shot in the McLaren Vale wine region of Australia, the wedding has the organic, laid-back glamour Ben and I are hoping to accomplish; it's the perfect inspiration. The last two photos are my favourite.

To see more of the wedding, visit Once Wed or Jonas Peterson's website.


(Images courtesy of Jonas Peterson via Once Wed).

Our Wedding: DIY Projects

As a control freak hands-on bride, my goal is to ensure as many elements of our wedding as possible embody Ben's and my vision. I've had a few people look at the ideas I've presented and say "that's so you" or "that's so you & Ben"; it's one of the coolest things to hear and it makes me even more excited for our big day...

One of the ways we're hoping to accomplish this sense of personalization is through homemade, DIY, elements. I have a penchant for DIY projects and I quite often find myself taking on more projects than I can finish. For this reason, I keep reminding myself that there is an impending timeline and that I must be selective.

At this point, the projects on my list are as follows:

1. Napkins. I've ordered a batch of fabric in a delicious pattern to be turned into napkins for our reception. Although napkins are typically one of the last things a bride thinks about, I saw them as an opportunity to inject an element of pattern and boldness to our otherwise neutral tablescapes. Additionally, they are sustainable in that they will be used again (and - once washed - gifted to my helper bees).

2. Table Runners. I'm on the hunt for the perfect jute or canvas to embody the burlap look we're going for (minus the horrid smell). To add a little glamour to the rustic table runners, I'll be affixing vintage style lace to the edges (a la these beauties). I'm excited for these to be used again in our home and the homes of our friends and family.

3. String Globes. This was the first project that made it to my 'list.' I am in love with the look of these globes both hung separately and in clusters, like this example. At this point it's still a 50/50 toss up between white or hemp string; however, white might be pulling ahead. This project is going to be messy; therefore, I'll require a lot of plastic balls and willful hands of my wedding party and craftiest friends. (I will primarily be using this tutorial).

4. Boutonnieres. I fell in love with a style that's a little bit eclectic, a little bit whimsy, and altogether unique. It also happens to be a style that doesn't use any fresh flowers. For this reason, I have the ability to assemble the bouts beforehand. I will post status updates once I start this project (I'm hoping it proves to be as simple as I imagine).

5. Centerpiece Vases. I have officially started the collection of mismatched vases that will be used as our centerpieces. I'm working with our florist to determine the overall look; however, the plan for the vases is set and the eclectic collection of thrift store vases will receive a happy makeover shortly. Again, progress report to come.

6. Menu Board. One of my two crafty Uncle Dean's is assisting on this one and has acquired a pile of old vintage barn wood (swoon) that will be assembled, stained, and painted on to recreate this menu board. We'll be propping it up on an easel at the end of our buffet.

So. That's it. Gulp.

I have a few surprises up my sleeves; however, these are the projects you can expect progress reports on. As one of my 2012 goals, I intended to complete one project per month between January and August. To date, January and February have been filled will establishing this list and acquiring the supplies and help required to accomplish these goals, a feat in and of itself. From here on in, these ideas will become reality and I'm thrilled to share the process with you.

. . .

Side note: in poetic fashion, my dress arrived on Valentine's day. It is everything I dreamed of and looks great hanging in my closet.

A Reception Treat.

If you're like me and you are "over" choreographed reception routines, this video might change your mind. This song is far too addicting (this little guy agrees with me) and this groom and his entourage have stolen my heart. Oh! and their wedding, featured on Style Me Pretty, is nothing short of amazing.

Enjoy.



(Video: aaron+judith surprise performance from studio205films on Vimeo via Style Me Pretty).

Vintage Inspired Farm Wedding

I adore all of the classic and romantic details of this farm wedding recently featured on Once Wed. Even the photography, captured by Tec Petaja Photography, has a glamorous vintage feel.

The couple was able to capitalize on the natural charm of the venue while personalizing the space with romantic lighting and whimsical, flowy, fabrics. These elements encapsulated their old school theme and unique vintage style. A perfect example of how a venue can inspire the overall ambience.



(Photos by Tec Petaja Photography via Once Wed).

Rustic Romance

Some things just go together like rama lama lama ke ding a de dinga a dong. Two of those things are the masterful photography of Max Wanger and the unique + rustic stylings of Bash, Please. Yet another collaboration (recently featured on Style Me Pretty) has me giddy with excitement.

This couple has mad style which is only accentuated by this creatively brilliant pairing.


Now... onto the details. Paige + Kelly of Bash, Please describe this couple as down to earth and organic people. The details of their wedding embody these sentiments brilliantly and are incorporated into every last element.




One of my favourite details is the venue's fireplace which was filled with candles in mason jars to up the romance ante.


apple pie pops might be one of the most brilliant things ever invented and the mini clip boards used to hold the menus are particularly sweet.


Evening ceremonies are so underrated. This one is absolutely stunning.


A moment stolen by the newly married couple.






Photos by Max Wanger and Design, Florals, & Coordination by Bash, Please. Wedding featured on Style Me Pretty.