Real Wedding – Heidi & Biju

A beautiful shot taken in the ceremony gazebo.

It’s been a year since Heidi & Biju celebrated their wedding here at Mill Run! We want to wish them a happy anniversary and take a look back at their beautiful wedding.

Over 200 guests joined Heidi and Biju to celebrate their wedding reception. They paid tribute to Biju’s heritage by changing into traditional Indian wedding outfits (Heidi’s sari was stunning in red and gold!) and being led into the reception by traditional Tabla drumming.

“Dear Amy and the Fabulous Mill Run Staff Team,

Thank you for all of your hard work to make our wedding on May 21st, 2011 the greatest day of our lives!

Our reception was absolutely incredible! All of the staff involved both behind the scenes and in the hall were so friendly and polite – our guests had only positive things to say about their experience! The food was fantastic, from cocktail hour to dessert, and the service was flawless! We still hear from our guests about how much they enjoyed their meals!

One of my most favourite memories that we will treasure always is when, towards the end of the evening, a few members of the wedding party were on the dance floor, performing the Cha Cha Slide and Jump On It, we looked up and at the back of the room, there was a large group of staff who were dancing along with us! It was such incredible energy and made our day to see our guests and the staff having such a great time!

To any future brides and grooms unsure of where to have your wedding – without a doubt I would recommend you meet with Amy and her team at Mill Run!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

~ Biju and Heidi Pappachan

Lights, camera, action!

While searching through wedding inspiration sites (my current obsession is Style Me Pretty), I’ve viewed some amazing wedding day videos.

I’ll be honest, I never really gave much thought to capturing the wedding day outside of photographs before. After seeing these videos, hiring a videographer is something I would make sure was part of my wedding day.

While photographs capture a moment in time, the wedding video brings the day back to life long after it has finished. It also allows for audio of some special moments to be replayed over and over.

Here are some of my favourites:

This is a Same Day Edit done by their videographer and possibly shared at the reception. I love when he sees Michelle for the first time and she twirls around to show off her dress. Beautiful.

There are so many style of video, it can have some amazing effects!

A few more to enjoy and inspire!

Advice from Rev. Maggie

This week, we have a special guest blogger! Rev. Maggie Cavalier of A Service to Remember is offering some tips and advice on the legal side of a marriage ceremony.

What is a licensed Wedding Officiant?

This is a person licensed with the government who can legally perform a marriage ceremony in theProvince of Ontario. The only service that requires a licence is a marriage or a civil union ceremony. You definitely want a licensed certified Wedding Officiant.

Do we have to attend premarital classes in order for you to perform our ceremony?

While many religions used to make this a prerequisite to performing a marriage ceremony there are still some religions that recommend these classes to prepare you for married life and it can be a good idea for a couple but no longer a requirement. I personally do have a requirement that I must meet with you before I will marry you. I need to know you are marrying for the right reason so I will ask you about your reasons for wanting to get married

I want to get married in a Caribbean Country. What is the best way to handle this?

More people are choosing to have a ‘destination wedding’. It can be difficult and you do have a language barrier. The trend is to have a quick marriage ceremony here and then go south and have a ceremony that does not require any licences or formalities that can be misunderstood.

What is the procedure regarding getting a marriage licence?

A marriage licence can only be issued to the Bride or a Groom. Proof of identity is required for both parties regardless of who applies and it can be obtained from any Municipal office in Ontario(generally a City Hall). The cost is $125.00 in Ontario and once it is issued it is valid only for 90 days. If you have been married before and divorce was granted in Canada, your application must be accompanied by your Decree Absolute or a Certificate of Divorce. If your divorce was granted outside of Canada, you will be required to have a lawyer witness both signatures and prepare a Letter of Opinion validating the divorce.
Anyone 16 or 17 years of age applying for a marriage certificate will require the written consent of their legal guardian.

Visit Maggie’s website at www.aservicetoremember.ca

Meet some of our preferred vendors!

I represented Mill Run at a wedding show this weekend and had the chance to catch up with some local wedding vendors that have worked with us here for various events. Since we are all so busy during the wedding season, it was wonderful to have a chance to re-connect with them. I think it’s a perfect time to share with you who some of these amazing vendors are and I hope that if you are looking for services for your event (they’re not just for weddings!) that you inquire with them.

What does it take to be a preferred vendor at Mill Run? The companies that have made this list are all vendors that we have worked with over the past few years. They provide quality services to our clients and to Mill Run. As you can imagine, with the number of events we host here annually we meet a lot of vendors and see their work but not all of them make our list. We pride ourselves on selecting vendors for referral services who match our standards of quality and service.

Fabulous Occasions www.fabulousoccasions.ca

Malvina has provided our decor items for the last three years. She has amazing vision and has helped us create some spectacular events. We are working on an exciting project with her this summer and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Rhythm Entertainment http://www.rhythmentertainment.ca

Shayne, Shawn and their crew of professional DJ’s are awesome. They consistently provide great music for our weddings and events and keep the guests (and staff) dancing all night.

Perfect Dream Bridal Boutique www.perfectdream.ca

Crystal and her staff at Perfect Dream know their wedding dresses! They carry a wide selection of styles and can help you find the perfect dress. We are partnering with them again this year as the host venue for their annual bridal show on Friday November 9th!

Mitchel’s Cake & Dessert Company www.mitchels.ca

 

We eat a lot of wedding cake around here, and Mitchel’s are always voted the staff favourite.

A Service To Remember www.aservicetoremember.ca

 

Rev. Maggie Cavalier is a wonderful woman and is open to all ideas, faiths, and beliefs. She goes the extra mile to ensure that her wedding ceremonies are memorable and personal to each couple.

Please visit their websites (and Facebook Pages!) and don’t forget to mention that you are a client of Mill Run!

 

The ‘Do Not Do” List

As you start planning your wedding or event, the “to do” list you make foryourself gets longer and longer. Meetings, site visits, marathon crafting sessions all begin to take up your time and you begin to wonder how you’re going to get everything done. Here’s a great idea: the “do not do” list.

I found a great article by Melissa Nowakowski of Et Lofte Events that lists some of her top items to put on your “do not do” list. Here are my favourites:

 DO NOT TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE

This is a toughie, we know. Everyone from your Mother to your Maid-of-Honour has an opinion about what’s proper, what should be included (or excluded), who should sit next to whom and how your wedding should be. With all the outside influences and opinions, couples can go downright batty trying to please everyone forgetting one small important detail: It’s YOUR WEDDING. This is your day to celebrate your love in your way no matter how non-traditional or off-the-beaten-path. And if someone doesn’t like how you’re choosing to celebrate your unity, trust me, they’ll get over it eventually.

So how do you plan your wedding your way without insulting those you care about most? There are a few key words to spout off whenever an opinion gets thrown at you. Write this down: “I’ll take that into consideration”. And do consider it. Then either accept it or toss it. If your case involves parents who contribute financially to your wedding day and feel that this entitles them to make decisions about the wedding, know that offering to contribute to the wedding should be because they truly want to help you with a very special day, not take control.

That said, if they offer to contribute to the wedding, express your gratitude and politely (and immediately!) lay down the ground rules. If the parental units still expect to have control over your wedding either take the contribution and offer to — write this down: “Compromise” (and do just that) or politely decline the offer and plan a wedding that’s within your financial means but that reflects you.

Now go focus on the two people you absolutely must please: yourselves.

DO NOT FEEL EVERYTHING HAS TO BE THE SHINY-AND-NEW

Everyone loves to have brand new things: brand new wedding gown, brand new suit, brand new cake knife and server, etc, etc, etc. But if “brand new” doesn’t fit into your budget, consider the not-so-new route. Wedding gowns can be rented, purchased second hand or your mother’s gown can be refurbished to fit your style. If you can’t afford a custom made suit — why not wear your own? Can’t afford those brand new white wedding stilettos? Use those hot pink stilettos in your closet for a punch of colour. Sometimes hand-me-downs or your everyday items can be a cost-effective and equally sentimental element to your wedding.

FOR BRIDES: DO NOT FORGET ABOUT YOUR GROOM

There are times that a wedding can seem like it’s all about the Bride. And it’s easy to see how that thought pops up from time to time. The Bride is the one with “the binder”, is researching centerpieces, cakes and wedding gowns. And some Brides have been dreaming of her wedding day since she was a little girl. But Brides need to remember that the wedding day is not just about the Bride. The Groom isn’t just showing up to get married. The wedding day is as much his day as it is the Bride’s. That having been said, Brides should delegate responsibilities to the Groom to keep him in the loop and share in the planning process. Ask the Groom what his vision for the day is and work together to ensure both visions are met.

FOR GROOMS: DO NOT TAKE THE BACKSEAT

In addition to the above, Grooms need to let go of the “Bride’s Day” or “Wedding planning is a girl thing” mentality. Grooms need to take an active role in the planning process. This is not just to ensure that the wedding reflects their personality as well as the Bride, but also to alleviate stress from the Bride by taking on some of the responsibilities. Time and time again, I’ve seen Brides succumb to being overwhelmed by all the planning details because the Groom is sitting back and letting her take control. Grooms should offer to take on some of the To-Do List and be open about his wishes or opinions. They should attend all meetings with all professionals, be it the florist, the cake designer or the wedding planner — not only those meetings that interest them like the DJ or transportation. You never know what might spark your interest or it might surprise you that you actually have an opinion about something that you thought you wouldn’t.

DO NOT STRESS ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS

Is rain in the forecast for your wedding day? Are you feeling bloated in your wedding gown? Is your Mother-in-Law having a meltdown because your Mother has the same coloured gown for the wedding day? Stop stressing! There will always be little hiccups to planning any celebration. The key is to roll with them. I have always said to my clients who are stressing about possible rain, “It’s rain, not acid. It’s not like it’s going to melt away your wedding day”. Stressing about the little things that can’t be helped will only ruin what should be an exciting time in your life, whether it’s the planning process or the wedding day itself.

But there are two important things to have on hand to help you not worry about those pesky little things. One is to always have a “Plan B” in place. For example, if there’s the possibility of rain, purchase enough umbrellas for your wedding party, or for outdoor weddings ensure that there is an indoor option that you can move the wedding into. The other important thing is to have on hand if you’re at risk for stressing is a wedding planner, even if it is merely to manage the wedding day. They’ll subtly handle issues that may come up on the wedding day and ensure that the wedding is how you have envisioned it, allowing you to focus on celebrating and little else.

Little things are exactly that: little things. Don’t let them put pressure on or ruin your wedding day. In fact, sometimes it’s those little things that make your wedding day even more memorable.

 

For the full article click here to visit Melissa’s site.

Have a little fun at your wedding!

 

Inspired by "How I Met Your Mother"

Weddings are full of traditions and even though they have evolved over the years, guests expect to see them and brides and grooms feel the need to have them. Why not shake things up and make the traditions unique to you!

I read a great post on Offbeatbride.com that had me laughing out loud at my computer. Click here to read an amazing ceremony program handed out to each guest as they arrived. Written by the groom, it has a very comical tone and makes a traditional element of the ceremony very unique to this couple.

The guests you invite to your wedding are some of the most important people in your life. As the years go on and life changes, you will want a special keepsake from the day to remind you of who was there. Go against the idea of a “guest book” and look at some creative alternatives! Are you musicians or did music play an important part of how you met? Have your guests sign a musical instrument that you can hang in your house. Each guest is unique, so why not use their fingerprints! (Make sure the ink you use will wash off easily).

Single ladies at your wedding expect, and most dread, to be corralled onto the dance floor to face potential injury (some girls get crazy!) to catch the brides bouquet. If this tradition is not high on your list why not change it! Honour a couple that is special to you and has been married for a long time (grandparents, parents or an aunt and uncle) by giving them your flowers. Include this in your wedding speech and ask the couple to bestow some words of wisdom to you and your new husband. Perhaps there is a woman in the crowd who has had a great impact on your life. Include a toast to her and offer her your bouquet as a thank you.

There are all kinds of ways to twist traditions – do some reasearch and thinking and I’m sure you will find a way to make them your own! Who knows, maybe you will start a new tradition that will carry on amongst your family and friends.

~Amy~

 

Experimenting with colour!

We all have a favourite colour. There was always a crayon that we picked first from the box or would only wear that coloured shirt because it was our favourite. As we grew older and thought about weddings, we dreamed about how our bridesmaids would look walking down the aisle in the colour we loved.

Visit any bridal boutique or watch a bridal fashion show and you will see that bridesmaids dresses cover the full spectrum of colours. But think beyond the dresses to items like flowers, napkins, escort cards, invitations and even lighting in your reception space. Colour is an amazing way to make your wedding unique. Every season has its “hot” colours but go against the trend and choose fun colours that you love.

Take your time to explore and think outside the box. Pick a main colour but then think about accent and highlight colours. It doesn’t have to match! Some of the most interesting combinations are colours that you would never think about putting together but they look amazing.

 Visit a paint store!

 A great place to start is visiting the paint section of a store and looking at the paint chips. Since they are sorted according to colour and shade you can play around with different hues of the same colour to see how the compliment each other. The samples are free so pick some up and take them home.

 Look online!

 It’s easy to get lost on wedding sites clicking on multiple pages and ending up nowhere near the place you started. Once you have your colours in mind, do a quick Google search and you will be amazed at how many options show up. If you’re looking for inspiration

My favourite site right now is Design-Seeds.com. They have taken a simple photograph and pulled the colours out to show you an amazing palette that you have probably never thought of before. Beautiful spring colours based on a dog and a flamingo? It can be done.

Colour is everywhere and all it takes is some imagination to use it to bring your wedding to life!

~Amy~