The Perfect Day for a Miramichi Wedding

Unique Wedding Gift Idea

2011-02-06T05:37:00.000-04:00

With so many couples having set up housekeeping either together or separately, before the wedding, the old standby of a kettle or toaster just doesn't cut it for a wedding gift these days. Couples are getting married later in life, so have already established their own homes, along with all the necessary small appliances, linens and decor items. And with the wide choice of household items available, taste plays a bigger part in what the new bride and groom want to use or display in their homes making it even more difficult to pick out a gift you are sure they will like or be able to use.

A wedding gift recently given to two friends who married on New Year's was interesting, innovative, practical and fun. It was given by a group of friends to a couple in their group, who were already set up with all the everyday essentials they needed.

The friends purchased gift cards to various merchants and created a scrapbook with each page having a theme which was tailored to the newlywed couple and their interests.

In this instance there were 12 couples who were gifting the newleyweds, so they used a calendar format to add a special twist to the scrapbook.

The couple were avid skiers, so January's page had a gift certificate to a local ski shop, which could be used for lift tickets or ski equipment at the pro shop. The page was decorated with ski themed items and pictures.

For February, the theme was Valentine's Day and the enclosed gift card for a meal at a local restaurant was surrounded by cupids and hearts in a colourful collage.

Since the couple had plans to go south for a delayed honeymoon in March, their friends used a Visa gift card as the centerpiece of a resort themed page, so the bride and groom could use it for any incidentals they might need to make their trip complete. As well there were coupons for a few tanning sessions to make their transition to the sunnier climate of Aruba more comfortable.

In April, after they arrived back home, the couple were planning to merge their two homes in one, and sell the bride's former condo, so a gift card to a rental company to help pay for a moving truck along with a couple of gas cards was surrounded by hints on how to pack and "gift certificates" from each couple offering their services to help make the work go faster.

For May, the friends placed gift cards from a couple of greenhouses to allow the bride to buy bedding plants for her new home and do a little landscaping as she enjoyed gardening.

June is all about summer, so the groom was the center of attention in his birthday month with gift cards to a couple of local golf courses for a round of golf or a cart rental. The background of score cards showing his bogeys and lost balls poked good natured fun at his golf experiences.

In July the couple planned to travel part way across the country to visit family and take part in a long planned family reunion. To help them out, the page had gift cards for a couple of nights at hotels along the way and was decorated with road maps showing their intended routes, and hilighting attractions to see on their trip.

August was a time the newleyweds had set aside some time to do some renovations in their home, so gift cards to local builders marts and lumber supply stores were placed on a page with paint chip samples as a background.

September's gift was a membership to a fitness club for the couple and the page showed pictures and charts of various workout routines.

Because the bride's birthday was in October, that month was dedicated to giving her some pampering with a day at a spa which included a manicure, pedicure, massage and other treatments. Her friends made the page all about her, with pictures showing her transformation in hairstyles and colours through the years.

Both the bride and groom sang and played guitar, and entertained their friends often, so surely appreciated the November page which held gift cards to a favourite music shop for new strings and a few picks or maybe even a new strap, to get the guitars all ready for the upcoming holiday parties. The friends surrounded the card with their list of favourite songs and requests.

With December and the upcoming 1st year anniversary, the page held tickets to a dinner theatre that the couple enjoyed two years prior and where they had actually gotten engaged.

Although it was a lot of work for the friends to put together the end result was a work of art. The couple was so impressed with it that they had colour copies made of all the gift cards and gift certificates and placed them in the book as they used the gift cards, so that it could be a permanent fixture on their coffee table and it certainly was a great conversation piece and a truly unique wedding gift.

This gift is one that can be personalized for any taste or hobby and can be scaled up or down to control the cost. If giving as an individual gift or from just a few friends, a smaller version, with just a few theme pages could be designed. Only your imagination limits the possibilities!!

Ginette is the owner of The Perfect Day Miramichi, a wedding rental business in Miramichi, New Brunswick Canada. Her web site http://www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com/ shows some of her ideas and products. Also visit us on facebook at theperfectdaymiramichi to see albums of our decor items.

The Wedding is ONLY the Beginning

2010-10-22T21:19:00.004-03:00

Your wedding day is the culmination of months of planning, maybe even years of dreaming. Every girl has had visions of the perfect wedding dress and the perfect wedding cake along with ideas about all the other elements that go into making her wedding day "The Perfect Day"

For both the bride and groom, what happens after the wedding is also something they have perhaps given a lot of thought to, but oftentimes, they haven't spent much time on the details.....
Some things that should be explored by the bride and groom BEFORE the big day are common to everyone who is a newlywed, where they should live, whether or not they would like children, how they will share financial responsibilities as a couple, how they will divide household responsibilities, etc.

It is not enough to assume that your spouse to be will see eye to eye with you on doing dishes or laundry or on paying bills and doing the banking. You have to communicate openly with one another over what will and will not be done and by whom.

Sharing of household tasks is easiest when neither party has ideas set in stone. If the bride's dad always did the dishes because Mom had made supper, she will have difficulty dealing with a spouse whose dad read the paper after his meal while his mother cleared up from the family dinner on her own. However, perhaps that same dad did all the outside yard work on his days off, or was responsible for all the parental car pooling to sports and activities, so the after supper paper break was his only down time. Keeping an open mind when you are discussing day to day responsibilities will make the whole process easier.

If you have ever read "The Good Wife's Guide" from Housekeeping Monthly in 1955, you probably look at it as a piece of humorous writing. Unfortunately for the wives of the day it was the norm. Men were to be revered and worshipped, waited on and coddled.

Gone are the days when "Lucy" ran to the door when "Ricky" came home, when "Edith" scurried to get "Archie's" supper on the table before he got his coat off and into the closet.

Today's bride is far from the wife of the 50's. She more than likely has a full time job, a group of friends of her own, pastimes which may or may not include her spouse, and most of all, she has an opinion! But today's groom has also grown and changed and he is much less likely to expect or want the subservience that was taken for granted by past generations of husbands.

Perhaps this change is due in part to the later age of today's brides and groom.

Rather than leaving the shelter of the family home to get married at a tender young age, many women are embarking on careers for several years before they settle down with a husband to start a life together. In the meantime, they have been responsible for their own needs, both financially and at the household level, so are much more independent. They know how to buy a car, have their own credit history and savings plans, and are used to being responsible for themselves on a lot of levels previously not known to women.

Men also are waiting longer to get married, and are not staying at home until marriage. They are established in their careers, may even own a home, and have become self sufficient in most household matters, so have no chauvinistic attitudes towards "woman's work" in the home. Someone had to do their dishes and laundry, and unless they had maid service, it usually fell to them to learn how, if they weren't already able to. My sons were doing laundry as teens, and were no stranger to unloading the dishwasher or clearing the table. Although they may not be as willing to do these tasks now as adults, they can't honestly claim that they don't know how!

So remember the amount of time and energy you spent in planning all the facets of your wedding down to the tiniest detail, and dedicate some of that same energy and thought into planning the rest of your life together as a married couple. Communication is the key to a long, happy marriage!!

Wedding Traditions and Their Meanings

2010-10-09T21:32:00.003-03:00

Through my business, The Perfect Day Miramichi, I spend a lot of time browsing wedding decor sites and other websites and books dedicated to Wedding Decoration and Ideas. I have come across a lot of information regarding what brides and grooms do as part of their wedding celebrations.

I browsed several sites for information on wedding traditions and superstitions and found a lot of ones that I knew about and a few that were a surprise to me. Many ceremonial acts that we perform are based on religious traditions or on superstitions which have survived through the years. Today's bridal couples carry on these practices in their wedding ceremonies and celebrations, often without knowing where they came from or what they are based on.

Credits: The following web sites were used for some of my research on this subject. Check them out for lots of wedding information and ideas!

www.yourwedding101.com

www.frugalbride.com

www.suite101.com

www.bridallinks.com

WHITE WEDDING GOWN
- First worn by Anne of Brittany, wife of King Louis XII,in the late 15th century but more recently popularized by Queen Victoria in 1840.
-Thought to represent purity and innocence.
-stands for celebration

WEDDING RINGS
- the never ending circle symbolizing the never ending marriage.
- It is worn on the third finger of the left hand, because the ancient Greeks and Romans believed the vein in that finger went directly to the heart.
- The ancient Egyptians believed the circle of the ring stood for eternity and never ending love.
-During a 17th century wedding ceremony the groom would slide the wedding ring part way up the bride's thumb, index finger and middle finger as the priest said "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit". As the ring finger was the first free finger, the ring was placed there.

WEDDING CAKE
- symbol of fertility.
- pieces of cake are served to guests to share the luck
- sending a piece of the grooms cake home is good luck for the homes it goes to
-sleeping with the grooms cake under your pillow will make you dream of your future husband

WEDDING VEIL - modesty of the bride, Ancient Greeks and Romans felt the veil protected the bride from evil spirits. Veils were denser and could not be seen through, so it prevented another man from seeing who the bride was and kidnapping her if he loved her too.

SOMETHING OLD
- from the bride's past with her family to bridge to the new life she is beginning as a wife.
- represents past traditions

SOMETHING NEW
- represents the hope of good fortune and a prosperous future.
- Brings you luck in the future.

SOMETHING BORROWED
-borrowing acknowledges the need for family and friend support in a marriage.

SOMETHING BLUE
- stands for faithfulness, loyalty and purity (true blue)
- symbol of fertility and modesty
-heather from Scotland is thought to be good luck for a bride, both because it is a blue flower and because it is an ancient symbol of fertility

THROWING RICE or CONFETTI
-symbolizes fertility. Birdseed was also popular for a time, and was considered a wish for fertility and also a green way to carry on a tradition without hurting the environment.
-represents wishes for a full pantry
-showering the newlyweds with the good things in life
- today, at most wedding venues, throwing rice or confetti is no longer encouraged due to the cleanup needed, and good luck is wished by blowing bubbles at the happy couple as they exit the church or wedding venue.

ENGAGEMENT RING
-originally a symbol that the bride-to-be "belongs" to the groom to be. Stems back to the times when a bride was purchased or bartered for.
- During the 16th century the french began using the engagement or "gimmel" ring as a symbol of love. The rings were intertwineable but were worn separately by the engaged couple until the wedding day when they were joined together to form the wedding ring for the bride.
- the Italians started using diamonds in engagement rings because they felt the diamonds were created from the fires of love.
-the ring is a promise of marriage, and the diamond being more valuable, means a stronger promise being made by the proposing groom.
-

WEDDING SHOWER
-originally held for brides who had no dowry, either because their father disapproved of their prospective bridegroom, or could not afford to give his daughter one. All the family members, friends and neighbours would gather and shower the bride with gifts to help her start her married life.
-In more recent times, it was a chance for all the women in the bride's life to gather and give her gifts to start her household and to offer her advice and good wishes for her upcoming marriage.
-Today it is sometimes supplemented by a stagette, where the younger friends and family of the bride get together to celebrate her last party as a single woman, and give her gifts to use on her wedding night or honeymoon.

WEDDING ATTENDANTS
Ancient Romans believed jealous evil demons were out to get the bride and groom and do them harm, so bridesmaids and groomsmen are there to protect the bride and groom. They are dressed in fancy attire similar to the bridal couple to confuse the evil spirits so they won't know which ones were getting married.
-it is also believed that groomsmen were selected to help the groom "capture" a bride and protect her until the groom could get her to the alter to be married. Bridesmaids were also chosen to help the bride with the tasks she needed to do before the wedding.

CARRYING OVER THE THRESHOLD
To prevent the bride from being tripped by jealous demons who wanted to spoil her day.

The noise of the cans is meant to scare away evil spirits.
The shoes symbolize the bride moving from the care of her father to the responsibility of her husband
blowing the horn is thought to ward off evil spirits
ringing of church bells serves dual purpose, it is a sound of celebration and also the noise wards off evil spirits.

BRIDAL HANDKERCHIEF
-The tears of the bride are good luck and must be caught.
-it is believed if a bride cries on her wedding day she will have less reason to cry in her marriage.

WEDDING MUSIC
-Queen Victoria's daughter, in 1858, selected Wagners "Bridal Chorus" (Here Comes the Bride) as her entrance song and Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" as her exit music. The British loved the monarchy and loved to emulate them so many brides of the day followed in her footsteps, thus popularizing the songs for generations of future wedding couples. To this day both songs are recognized as associated with weddings after just a few bars.

FATHER GIVING AWAY THE BRIDE
-goes back to the time when a young girl was considered the property of her father. He "gives" her away to the groom both as an acknowledgement that she has been paid for and that he approves.
-more recently the father is saying that the groom is suited to be a husband for his daughter by officially presenting her to the bridegroom in front of his family and friends.

WEDDING GUEST BOOK
-serves as a record of those who witnessed the ceremony, which is why it is traditionally signed at the reception not at the church before the wedding.

WEDDING UNITY CEREMONIES
-3 candles, one large one representing the new couple and one smaller one for each of their families. The large candle is lit together by the parents of the bride and groom using a flame from each of the smaller candles.
-In South Africa, both sets of parents carry a fire from each of their homes and join them as one fire in the hearth of the newly married couple.

Wedding traditions can be things your family has always done, so are unique to you and your family making them even more special. Some heirlooms, such as jewelery, vintage wedding gowns, antique cars, or special dishes and decor items are handed down through generations and passed around to all the wedding parties in a family. Preserving these traditions, especially if your wedding guests include people who also carried them out in their ceremonies, adds an element of sentimentality for all those present. One family I know, had me design and sew a christening gown from the grandmother's wedding gown, which was no longer wearable as it was, but had plenty of fabric suitable to make the new tradition to be handed down through the family. Thus a new tradition was born!

Ginette is the owner of The Perfect Day Miramichi, a wedding and event rental business in Miramichi, New Brunswick. Check out the website at www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com for further info and ideas for your wedding or special celebration. We carry decor items, chair covers, tablecloths, dishes and glassware, centerpieces, backdrops and many more wedding decor items.

Tips for Saving Money on Your Wedding

2010-10-08T03:57:00.003-03:00

Every bride wants a fairytale wedding. She wants to feel like a princess, complete with all the royal touches on her wedding day.
If she was born to royalty or to a wealthy businessman, she can live her dream without ever worrying about how much this dream will cost.

But, if she is like most of us, she must save and plan to have her Cinderella wedding day. She may be marrying her Prince Charming, but he is more likely to have a taupe Dodge Charger than a white charger of the equine persuasion! Along with this more mundane method of transportation, he is usually saddled with everyday bills and payments, as is the bride, so an extravagant wedding with no spending limits is definitely out of the question.

To foolishly ignore reality could turn the fairytale wedding into a nightmare which stays around a long time to haunt the newlyweds. Here are a few tips to help you get started on planning your wedding to avoid breaking the bank.

Start Early and take your time. There are bargains and good buys to be found, but if you are under pressure of time you are much less likely to shop wisely. Haste makes waste! If you allow enough time you can explore what options are available at both ends of your price range and decide which one better fits your style and wallet.
Make a budget and STICK TO IT! If you take the time to do a little research and make a realistic budget it will be much easier to follow through with your intentions. When planning your budget decide what can and can't be cut or modified so there are no arguments or disputes later.
Start with your venue and see if you can recreate the atmosphere of the expensive hotel conference rooms in a more modestly priced venue. With the right decor you can transform many rental halls into an attractive banquet/dance facility without the expense. Do a thorough outline of what is provided at each and at what cost. If the hotel provides dishes, tablecloths, tables and chairs and other amenities, what would the cost to rent the equivalent be. Would this extra cost to rent items be offset by the lower price of the venue and the freedom to hire less costly caterers, servers and entertainment?
Caterers prices vary widely and what they provide varies just as widely. What could be $30 or $40 (or more) per plate at a hotel or conference center may be provided at 1/2 to 2/3 of the price from a small private caterer. If you plan on 150 or 200 guests, the savings per plate could amount to a sizeable difference in cost. But make sure you are getting an acceptably comparable meal for the lower price.
Know your numbers. Send your invitations out in good time, and once the deadline for return has passed, go over your list to see who has not replied. If you are missing some replies, it is not considered poor taste to call invited guests to see if they can confirm their attendance. After all, their reply card could have been lost in the mail or otherwise misdirected. Most venues and caterers allow for a certain number of extra plates, but knowing a more definite number of confirmed guests means you won't pay for a large amount of extras and won't run short either.
Enlist the help of friends and family if hiring a decorator is outside your budget. Many decor items can be made, borrowed or rented, but make sure you are allowing the time and manpower that will be needed on your wedding day and the day before and after. You don't want to be lugging centerpieces or backdrops on your wedding morning when you should be relaxing and having a manicure or getting your hair done.
List the pros and cons of having live music at your ceremony, reception and dance. Perhaps you could hire a soloist who also plays an instrument to provide your ceremony music, then entertain your guests at the beginning of the reception. Asking your DJ to provide a muted background music during the reception might not add much to the overall cost of his services. Weigh the benefits of live music for your dance against the variety that can be provided by a DJ, usually at a much lower cost.
Be realistic and candid when meeting with vendors. Ask your florist what she can provide for the price you have in your budget. If you can't get the look you want in florals for the amount you have planned to spend, opt for candles or some other type of centerpiece that can be created by yourself or a family member. Wedding vendors know their products best and will work with you to find something within your price range if you let them know your limits.
Beware the extras. Make sure everything is in writing so you know exactly what you are getting and at what price. Be prepared to pay deposits and reservation fees, and make sure your contract spells out the vendors and your obligations and rights regarding downsizing your order or cancelling. Read your contracts carefully to avoid penalty costs associated with late returns of rentals. Check if picking up your rentals, floral or other items will save you delivery costs, but make sure you have someone available to to these tasks so chaos doesn't happen on your day.

Above all, remember that the day is about you and your partner being joined as a couple, and celebrating with your family and friends. You want it to be a nice day for everyone, but overspending will not guarantee anything other than headaches after the fact!

HOW TO MAKE FAMILY MEMBERS FEEL PART OF YOUR SPECIAL DAY

2010-10-04T00:50:00.004-03:00

TIPS FOR INVOLVING FAMILY MEMBERS IN YOUR WEDDING-

Yes it is YOUR day, and it should be special for you. But remember that part of what makes the day special for you is being able to share it with your family and friends. While they all may enjoy sharing your day with you, there are many little ways you can make them feel a big part of your day.

Have younger siblings or cousins assigned to age appropriate jobs. A preteen can help place pew markers, or circulate a guest book, or be invited to the shower as a guest and a helper. I have had nieces and nephews as young as 8 or 9 work together with an adult to serve food and beverages to guests with no mishaps.

photo by Kim Harris, Eyemagine Photography

Two young teens can work together to serve beverages by one carrying a tray of soft drinks and the other handing them out to guests.

Give a digital camera to teens, who will likely be more comfortable behind the lens than in the spotlight. Some of the most memorable pictures I have at my son's wedding reception were of my 80+ year old father and were taken by my 10 yr old nephew. Kids will take 100's of pics, some good, some not, but if you weed through them after the event and do a bit of editing and cropping you may find the "shot of the day".

Have a child who is a too old for flower girl but too young for bridesmaid hand out bulletins and bubbles or confetti at the church.

At home parties/receptions assign answering the door to a young person who can then take coats and place them in a pre-determined area then direct guests to the correct area of the house. This is especially helpful when the party or reception is being held in the backyard or patio/pool area, or in a downstairs den or family room, as guests are not always comfortable wandering about your home without direction and allows the hostess to be taking care of necessary tasks or spend time with the guests who are already there.

Take advantage of the talents of family members. I had a young nephew play his violin as guests were arriving at the reception, and this versatile young man switched quite comfortably to serving coffee and tea to older guests after the meal was over. He was quite a hit, both for his musical talent and his helpfulness.

photo by Kim Harris, Eyemagine Photography

If you are providing your own food for a party/reception enlist the help of teens for preparing meat trays, filling pickle/relish/condiment dishes, folding napkins, etc. They may not be as skilled or speedy as an adult, but the jobs they do can then be taken off the to do list and free up the adults for tasks that require the skill and speed. And you may discover that a young family member has a lot of talent in the art of food display and preparation.

If a family member has a certain recipe they are very good ad, enlist their help. One of my sisters makes excellent fudge and was thrilled to be asked to make several batches for her nephew's reception. The brother of a friend made several batches of home made wine and bottled it in small presentation sizes with personalized labels to be given as wedding favours at his friend's daughter's wedding. It was a wedding gift which was the highlight of the day, giving guests something useful to take home and serving as an attractive centerpiece on the reception tables.

Out of town guests who arrived too late to be involved in the pre-wedding preparations can be made to feel part of the day by being asked to take care of such tasks as ensuring the wine is retrieved from the cold storage and placed on the reception tables just before the bride and groom make their entrance, or circulating the guest book.

If pew markers and floral arrangements need to be removed from the church after the ceremony and stored or moved to the reception site, enlist the help of someone you know who will be traveling alone, thus will have room in their vehicle. Sharing this job between two or three people who have just met will help solo guests to get acquainted with each other.

A relative of strong faith will be honoured to be asked to say grace or a prayer of thanks at your event. The personal touch they can give to the blessing will add much to the atmosphere.

Buy mom a lace handkerchief, pack it in a pretty gift box and present it to her for your wedding dress shopping trip. Hand write a note to her expressing how her support has been important to you throughout the years and how her sharing this moment with you is so special to you. Trust me, she'll need the hankie when she reads your note!

Your dad may not be the "shopping trip kind of guy", but ask him to help you by looking over contracts and sales quotes once you receive them from vendors or to be responsible for coordinating deliveries of tables/chairs or other necessities on the days leading up to the wedding.

Make sure you acknowledge the help and participation of family and friends so they know how much you appreciate what they did, and how much their presence made you happy. They are part of your special day because they are a part of your life.

Ten ways to make your day THE PERFECT DAY without spending a fortune

2010-10-02T03:30:00.002-03:00

Your wedding day is one of the most emotional and memorable days in your life.

For most of us, the major milestones in our lives can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Our graduation from the education program that led to our choice of lifelong career, our marriage, the birth of our children, rank among the top events we look back upon throughout our lives. Unless we win the lottery no other events have so much emotion and eventfulness packed into a single day.

For a bride and groom the wedding day is the beginning of a new life together, but the day in and of itself is a major event as well. Each little detail of the day must be special so that when we look back upon the day all the memories are perfect!
From the time the wedding date is chosen to the actual wedding day, more energy and effort goes into the single day than most people put into choosing a home. Our families, friends and co-workers all get involved in the preparations and festivities.

On your wedding day, there are many small details that can add an element of luxury and glamour without breaking the bank. All it takes is a little imagination, a little legwork and a little elbow grease. Try doing some of the following to add some pizazz to your Perfect Day!! Enlist your friends to help you put some of them together in advance before the last minute details require your attention.

Add a basket of "necessities" to the powder room, so guests don't get embarrassed or upset by a mishap. Include a couple of pairs of panty hose, some hairspray, mints, gum, mouthwash, tissues, clear nail polish to repair runs in hose, panti-liners/tampons, hair clips, elastics, a small sewing kit, a manicure kit, or nail file and clippers, a tweezer, hand cream, antacid, headache remedy(make sure it is in a childproof container if there are children at your event) and anything else you can think of that might avert any minor catastrophe. Most items can be bought at the dollar store, so the cost would be very little, and when placed in a couple of nice baskets in the ladies room, would show your guests how important it is for them to have a perfect day at your wedding.
Instead of a guest book, have decorative business size cards, or shaped cards at your sign-in table for guests to leave you words of advice or wisdom, or to express their good wishes. Provide a pretty basket, a large glass fishbowl or small birdcage for the missives to be placed in once they are written.
Make simple centerpieces out of glass globes or cylinders filled with coloured water and stones. Have water level just above the level of the stones so metal tea lites can rest just above the water line. Sprinkle a few silk rose petals or crystal chunks around the base of the centerpieces or set the glass containers on mirror tiles to further reflect the candle light.
Add some glamour to plain white table cloths by having simple squares of satin or organza in the center of your table. If you have chair sashes, order or rent enough extra sashes to use one as a table runner or order two per table and criss-cross them.
Run a line of small glass fishbowls or dollar store square glass containers the length of your head table with a tea light in each one. Wrap a ribbon in your wedding colours around each, secure with a dab of fabric glue and accent with silver metal charms or small silk flowers.
Cover less than attractive pillars with a tube of stretch fabric in your wedding colours, or in white accented by ribbons in your colours, to support flower arrangements at either end of your head table or gift/cake tables.
Borrow white Christmas mini lights from friends and family and hang them from your table skirting, then cover with swags of organza for a cinderella effect to your head table.
For a simple cake table, cover a round table with a table cloth which is slightly over long. Bring bottom of table cloth out from the base of the table and anchor to floor with small pieces of two face tape so it is flared out, then place a ring of flower petals or ivy all around for decor.
To dress up plain dinnerware, place a coloured paper luncheon napkin in the center of the plate, place a small paper doily on top and then place your favour on the doily.
For inexpensive guest favours, look for glass coasters at the dollar stores, fill with mints, or coloured candy and wrap with a circle of tulle tied with glittery ribbon. Or use small clear plastic footed shot glasses.

Special does not necessarily mean expensive. Look for inexpensive ways to duplicate the effects of high end decor. Knowing you didn't break the budget will allow you to enjoy your day more fully, but spending a little time early on to focus on adding a few details can add the special touch to you Perfect Day!!

Check out our website at www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com for some more ideas on decor for your day!

A Not so Perfect End to a Perfect Day

2010-10-01T05:54:00.008-03:00

My son's wedding down south was perfect in every way, the weather was beautiful, the bride was gorgeous, he was handsome, he was surrounded by a close group of family and friends.

Once we returned to Canada, I jumped into a whirlwind of preparations for the reception to celebrate the marriage with the rest of a large extended family.

Browsing through books and the internet, I found and discarded idea after idea for special touches to enhance their Perfect Day in Miramichi. Invitations were designed and printed, the cake was designed and made, the meal was planned and prepared, decorations were chosen and created, the photographer was booked, all was ready!

One picture on the internet caught my eye and my fancy. It was a simple buttery sugar cookie, shaped like a wedding cake, and iced with a delicate cornelli lace design which was a perfect match for the wedding cake that was sitting proudly in my living room waiting for the special day. After days of considering and discarding the idea, I could no longer control myself...... I had to have those cookies!!!

Out came the mixer, and the ingredients and we were off to the races. Needing over 150 of the cookies, I ended up making 4 batches of the recipe provided, a full evening's work. Once the cookies were cooked and cooling, the magnitude of the job of icing them as shown began to become obvious to me. Not to be deterred, I spent a few hours browsing the internet for ideas on how to speed up the process. I finally stumbled across a small, obscure entry on a cooking forum describing how to glaze cookies using, of all things, store bought canned icing. It was sooooo simple, just microwave the icing for a few seconds, and when it was fluid enough, pour over the cookies and voila!! After a few messy attempts, I worked out a system using cake racks over a big bowl to catch the overflow and got all the cookies glazed, returning the icing in the overflow bowl to the microwave to be softened as often as necessary. Then a few (or more than a few) hours with a piping bag and slightly tinted icing and all the cookies had their cornelli lace overlay. And into the freezer they went.

The day of the wedding reception came, and I proudly added the cookies to the dessert table, accepting many compliments over the taste and the beauty of my creations. (Credit for the recipe and the process went to the proper sources, of course)

(photo by Kim Harris, Eyemagine Photography)

When all was over, and the gifts were loaded into the last two vehicles to take home, all the leftover food packed into the commercial fridges at the reception hall, to be picked up in the morning, I prepared to take my aching feet home... As I walked out of the kitchen I spied the tin with the few remaining cookies in it, and for some reason, was loathe to leave them behind. So carrying the tin, and a beautiful inlaid wedding plaque my younger son had created for his brother and new sister in law, I locked the front door of the hall behind me, and followed my husband and his cousin down the steps. As they walked to our truck, and as the newleyweds pulled out of the parking lot in their rental car, I announced that I was going to check the side door to make sure it was locked.

Imagine my surprise a few seconds later when I heard " she must have gone with them" and the sound of the truck door slamming and watched them drive away! Here I was, a mile from home, out in the country, at 2:30 in the morning, wearing a silk dress and high heels, and carrying a wedding plaque and a tin of cookies!!!

Assuming they would all notice on arriving at the house that I was not present, I sat on the steps to await the returning vehicles with their apology.... 5 minutes went by, 10 minutes went by, no one was coming back..... So I started walking carrying a wedding plaque and a tin of cookies!!!

Half way home, while crossing a bridge over a little brook, I heard a revving truck engine over the still country air. My rescuers were on the way! A few seconds later, I was in the truck warm and comfy holding my wedding plaque and a tin of cookies! When I questioned why it took almost 20 minutes to notice I was missing, I was met with a sheepish shrug.

So after a Perfect Day, and an invigorating walk, I was finally home, with my wedding plaque and my TIN of COOKIES!!!

PS: I'll post the recipe and how to's for the cookies in another post soon!!

Ginette is the owner of The Perfect Day Miramichi, an event rental business which caters to the Miramichi and surrounding areas of New Brunswick, Canada.

See the website at: www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com

Top 10 Tips for a Stress-free Wedding Day

2010-09-30T01:23:00.002-03:00

You've gotten engaged, you've set the date, you've booked a church and a venue........

NOW WHAT??

Your wedding day is one of the most emotional and overwhelming days in your life, probably only outdone by the birth of your children or by serious tragedy. But unlike births and personal tragic events, your wedding day can be planned and organized.

Here are a few hints and tips to make your day "The Perfect Day"

Surround yourself with people you like throughout the planning stages. If you have a friend or family member who makes you laugh, especially if they are able to make you laugh at yourself, make sure they are around to help de-stress you when problems rear their heads. It's no sense having cousin Mable the Miserable be the one to take shopping when you are having problems finding gifts for your attendants. When things go wrong, and they sometimes do, having someone level headed to help you think things through is MUCH better than having someone who just cries oh no!!
Don't set your heart on something without having a plan B that you can be equally happy with. After all, the outcome of the wedding is that you are beginning a marriage that hopefully will have you spending the rest of your life with someone you love.
Make lists of all the jobs that need done to create the magic of the day, and see which ones can be done ahead of time, or by someone else, or shared with family and friends. If you leave too much to the last days, you risk things going wrong, or yourself and your bridal party being tired and stressed. Try to do a mental walk through of all the events of that day, so you can visualize what tasks need done and by who they could be done.
Divide your to-do list and plans into must have and can be changed. If you just have to have a certain venue, a certain soloist or a certain colour of shoes, take care of these tasks early to avoid disappointment or to give you a chance to implement the equally satisfactory plan B if necessary.
Get signed contracts and quotes so you don't get any 11th hour surprises. If you find what you want at the price you want to pay, book it. It's important to recognize that there are only so many venues and so many entertainers available, especially on popular dates, so don't let your choice slip through your fingers by procrastinating.
Organize your paperwork, so things get taken care of when they need to be. Start a file box to keep your to do lists, your signed contracts, your sample pictures etc. Dedicate a small datebook/diary to track upcoming appointments and deadlines and update it often. Use a pencil if you want to keep it tidy when things change.
Take time to relax and enjoy the important members of your family and friends circle as you plan and carry out all the tasks leading up to your wedding day. When you go dress shopping with your attendants, add lunch at a fun bistro to break up the day, for example. On the day you and your mom go shopping for your wedding gown, start the day with a trip to the spa for a manicure and facial for both of you, to get you relaxed and give you some together time to reminisce or just chill out. A nice touch would be to present your mom with a lace edged hanky, to wipe those inevitable tears she will shed as she sees you in "the dress" for the first time.
Talk things over with your husband-to-be, decide on what tasks each one of you will be responsible for doing or for delegating and post reminders in your datebook. Check to see that things are done before its too late for a change in plans, so little problems won't grow into big problems.
Get LOTS of REST the last few days before the wedding. If possible, schedule any showers, stags, bachelorette parties, etc, for the week before the wedding week, so you have fewer social events to attend. Spend a relaxing evening with your future husband in the middle of the week just to be together. No planning, no organizing, no talking about the wedding day jobs to be done.
RELAX. Once your wedding day arrives, it's too late to worry about anything that isn't exactly the way you planned it. Remember that this day is the beginning of a long happy togetherness and smile away all the little things and enjoy yourself!

As the owner of The Perfect Day Miramichi, an event rental business, I deal with brides on a regular basis and see how pre planning takes a lot of the stress out of their wedding day. Every bride deserves a beautiful relaxed wedding day to share with her friends and family! Check out our website at:
www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com

Confessions of a Closet Wedding Planner or How I Got Into the Wedding Rental Business

2010-09-28T20:07:00.004-03:00

In my former life, I had a full time job, and I had 3 sons, so that was another job for me, and a husband in contracting, so that was another job for me, and a son who had a small business, so that was another job for me, and two elderly parents, so that was a bit of a job for me,too. Sooooo, needless to say, I was probably bored lol!! And I had lots of time on my hands lol!!

Then things changed.
My oldest son decided to get married. True to what he had been saying for years, he wanted to be married at a resort down south. So fast forward to April 2007 and we were in the Dominican Republic for his wedding.

With a large group of friends and relatives back home who were unable to attend we decided we would have a reception for he and his new bride on our return home, and the newlyweds and in-laws flew in from Alberta to meet the "family".

Note I said I had 3 sons, note also that means no daughters. So..... no planning weddings in my future, no trips to every bridal shop in all the cities in the province to help choose a wedding dress, no making decisions about wedding decor, or choosing a meal to serve to our family and friends. But I gamely jumped into the ring (no pun intended!!) and started doing what I could do to provide the bridal couple with the options available locally. Meanwhile they were in Alberta planning and hosting a party for their friends from there.

Not long into the planning my new daughter in law gave me carte blanche to plan the day as I wished. She had already planned her wedding, and the reception in Alberta, and was willing to let me do the honours to make matters simpler and avoid the long distance back and forth. She was confident it would be a good time and I would do well by the family.

So there I was, my dream come true, I got to run the show and plan a wedding reception down to the tiniest details. They say Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!! Well Hell hath no fervour like a woman with no limits and a credit card!! I was off to the races like the finest thoroughbred, and there wasn't a store, local or internet that was safe from my browses. I shopped all over the continent for the perfect ribbon, the perfect glasses, the perfect wedding photo frames, I even made the wedding cake! What a fun time I had.

(photo by Kim Harris, Eyemagine Photography)

When everything was over, and the dust had settled, I was left with all the paraphernalia to host a wedding reception for over 125 people. Dishes, glassware, tablecloths, decorations, you name it, I had it!! It was a great time, everything was beautiful, but now I had enough dishes to give everyone a complete set for Christmas!! After loaning it to a few friends for their family parties and to an acquaintance for a wedding she was helping to plan, someone told me I was foolish not to get organized and rent it out. After all it was paid for, it was mine, it was nice stuff, and so on and so on and so on....

(photo by Kim Harris, Eyemagine Photography)

Once that seed was planted it refused to wilt, and over the next year or so it festered. Resigning myself to the inevitable, I started shopping for my new business and formulated a business plan. This could be a nice little sideline for retirement, due in another 5 or 6 years, I thought.

Like a puppy that is so cute and "small" this little sideline grew and grew, and suddenly I had enough stock to equip a wedding in a variety of colours for as many as 300 people. Every room in the house and part of my parents home was overrun with packages and bins of stock and my little folder of paperwork beside by sofa grew to need a filing cabinet as the response to a few tentative kijiji ads amazed me. I was on my way! And I was having fun!

This first year has been amazing, I have met so many adorable brides and grooms and although I primarily am a rental business, I can't resist lending a hand to help "My" brides set up for their special day. It has been fun, exciting, fulfilling and busy. And I'm so looking forward to doing more of the same next year! I have already met several brides of 2011 and they are wonderful, so bring it on!!! I may not be a wedding planner, but I can and will help you plan Your Perfect Day. So this "wedding planner" is out of the closet!! lol!

Pictures are the property of THE PERFECT DAY MIRAMICHI unless otherwise stated. For a look at more wedding pics and rental items, see our facebook page, The Perfect Day Miramichi, or check out our website: www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com

Miramichi Wedding Trends

2010-09-27T20:48:00.002-03:00

Looking back over the years, some trends in weddings have not changed. Grooms still wear black tuxedos/suits in most cases, bridesmaids wear formal/semi-formal dresses, and carry flowers, and groomsmen wear the traditional boutonnieres in the lapels of their suits.

What has changed is the overall theme of wedding attire and decor.
Brides no longer wear modest high necked dresses and carry traditional bouquets of roses. Today's bride is more likely to be the epitome of sophistication in figure hugging designer styles and she has exchanged the demure veil for saucy headpieces or tiaras that complement intricate up-dos.

Photo by Kim Harris, Eyemagine Photography

Attendants have followed the bride's lead to sophistication with stronger colour choices, adding more depth to the wedding palette. Today's bridal party is as likely to be dressed in cocktail dresses in deep jewel colours as to be wearing the flower garden pastel colours of past years.

Black, once reserved for funerals, mourning and cocktail parties, has become a statement colour for bridal attendants. The strong contrast is photogenic and gives a depth to the recently popular black and white photo shoots while serving as a great background for vibrant colour bouquets.

Wedding decor has followed the trend to strong statements. Lavish decor in jewel colours makes the nature of the occasion obvious, and sets the scene for a celebration to be enjoyed. Today's bride and groom don't sneak away after the reception, but join friends and family in the festivities, so more attention is going into the details of the reception and dance decor. At The Perfect Day Miramichi, we have had requests for everything from hot pink to bright orange, as well as black, brown, willow green and pastel champagne, along with all white decor, which in itself carries a certain level of sophistication if the focus is placed on contrast created by texture and shape.

Stronger colours have not only been used in wedding party clothing, but in wedding decor as well, Today's bride has achieved a new level of glamour, using sequins, crystals and glass enhanced by candlelight, spotlights and floodlights. Decor ranges from vibrant colours to fairytale venues replete with satins and crisp linens.

Today's bride and groom focus a lot of thought and attention on creating a memorable background for wedding pictures that will give them lasting memories of a very special day.

Photos on this blog are from events supplied by The Perfect Day Miramichi. More photos can be seen on our facebook page or our website: www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com

Early Bird Brides Avoid Last Minute Disappointments

2010-09-26T10:19:00.005-03:00

Having just started in business earlier this year with The Perfect Day Miramichi, an event and party rental business, I was really unsure how seasons for parties/weddings ran. Most of my customers for 2010
were brides wanting decor items for weddings, or for pre wedding or post destination wedding receptions. They started calling and getting quotes in late winter/early spring for dates ranging from one month to nine months away. I worked under less than desirable conditions, due for the most part to lack of planning and limited space to get organized in, but knew the next season was going to be different!

With most of this season's bookings now over with, and only a New Year's Eve wedding left to deal with, I was anticipating some down time to plan my direction for next year. I was going to get my stock all in order, design and build a new office space in an unused bedroom, spiff up my website, etc etc etc. When the new year started, I was going to be ready!!

But I underestimated the power of word of mouth and free advertising. Within a week of my last wedding rentals, I got a call from a bride getting married exactly a year later, at the same venue, wanting to book rentals for her special day. She was a friend of my bride and had looked at the wedding pictures posted by friends and family as she was unable to make it home for the wedding. A short while later a bride called wanting to rent specific colours for her New Year's Eve wedding but had to leave disappointed as the items she wanted were already booked. Later that same day I opened emails from 2 brides wanting to book for June and July next year! 3 of the 4 brides had seen my rentals either at actual weddings or photos on my facebook page (or someone else's) or my website http://www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com/

Brides are organized, know exactly what they like, and are willing to work with you to make sure they get the exact look they want. With the abundance of pictures of wedding venues and all parts thereof on the internet, brides can make a collage of their dream for their "Perfect Day" and start searching early for the components they just can't do without. And with the popularity of big family weddings once again, it takes more than a few weeks to put together their special day! So planning early is a must to avoid disappointment!

For help in planning and ideas for your perfect day, check out my website at:
www.theperfectdaymiramichi.com

So, onward to 2011!