The Toronto Wedding Chapel

Congratulations Joy and Allen!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:22:00 +0000

June 23rd, 2009
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

THE TORONTO WEDDING CHAPEL IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:18:00 +0000

Since the City of Toronto strike over three weeks ago there has been a lot of confusion as to what services the city actually provides and what services are or are not being offered during the strike. There are people that are under the misconception that they can’t get married as long as the Toronto strike is ongoing. That is absolutely not true. The Toronto Wedding Chapel is an exquisite and intimate chapel that is privately owned and operated. We are not a City of Toronto service therefore the civic workers strike in Toronto has nothing to do with the Toronto Wedding Chapel. Marriage licences are still being issued at City Hall from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday – Friday. There is no impediment to proceeding with your wedding as planned at the Toronto Wedding Chapel.

We open for business as usual – 7 days a week from 8:00 AM – Midnight by appointment. An intimate and elegant venue, we can accommodate weddings with up to 25 guests. We offer religious, secular, multi-faith, and inter-denominational ceremonies. Our Officiants are licensed to perform marriage ceremonies by the Register General of the Province of Ontario and currently we offer services in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. We are professional wedding and event planners who offer a complete wedding planning service including witnesses, invitations, décor, florals, cake, champagne and other alcoholic beverages by special permit, catering, music, photography, videography, webcasting, limousine and transportation service, travel advice, accommodations, sightseeing, and more.

Don’t put off getting married because of the strike in Toronto. The Toronto Wedding Chapel is open for business and looking forward to hearing from you.

WEDDING WARS – SMALL WEDDING OR LARGE WEDDING – WHO WINS?

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Planning a wedding can become very stressful, especially when both partners don’t envision the same wedding. Remember the last Sex in the City movie when the wedding became bigger than Big, and after calling off the wedding Carrie and Big eventually married quietly at City Hall. When deciding whether to have a big wedding or a small wedding you will have to marry fantasy with practicality. Here are the pros and cons of big weddings and small weddings.

Pros of Big Weddings:

You can invite anyone you choose without leaving anyone out.
Big weddings make a big impression.
You can satisfy your dream for a big wedding and be princess for a day.

Cons of Big Weddings:

The cost is directly proportionate to the size – big weddings, big price tag.
They take a lot of planning.
There are so many people in attendance that you may not have the opportunity to spend time with many of your guests.

Pros of Small Weddings:

You will have time to enjoy your spouse and mingle with close family and friends.
Easier to plan.
Much less expensive.
More venue options.

Cons of Small Weddings:

A restricted guest list may mean some hurt feelings.
It is more difficult to satisfy two families.

Who wins? There is no right or wrong and regardless of your preference the budget may make the decision for you. If money is not the object then you have a decision to make. As with most things in life, one person will really feel more strongly about the issue than the other. In the ideal world, that person will have the final say. However, if the size of the wedding becomes a seriously contentious issue, there may be more to consider than the size of the wedding.

SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR NAME & HOW TO DO IT

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:12:00 +0000

In days gone by women took their husband’s surname when they got married, but the women’s liberation movement changed all of that. Should you change your name? That is entirely up to you and your spouse. It is estimated that 70% of brides still change their last name. Here are some things to consider before making a decision.

If you are established in your career you may opt to keep your maiden name, or use your maiden name professionally and take your husband’s name for personal use.
If you are planning to have children it may be more convenient to change your name so that you can have the same surname as your children.
You can use your maiden name as a middle name.
You can hyphenate your name and your husband’s name.
Instead of changing your name, your husband can take your surname.

How can you change your name to your spouse’s? You have two options.

a. Assume the Name. The majority of people assume their spouse’s name. Assuming a name means that you use it and you are recognized by it, but it is not a legal name change. The name on your birth certificate will not change. There is no paperwork to do and no fees to pay. You simply assume the name that you want to use. You can go back to using your maiden name at any time without any paperwork or fees. Once you are married or in a common-law relationship, you may apply to change all your identification with your marriage certificate. No formal name change is required.

b. Election to Change Surname. You may legally change your surname by completing an Election to Change Surname form. If you elect to change your name within 90 days following marriage there is no cost. If you elect to change your name after 90 days following marriage the fee is $25.00. After you legally change your name your birth certificate will show your new name and your previous last name. If for any reason you decide to go back to your maiden name you will have to contact the Office of the Registrar General to complete another name change.

Contact the Office of the Registrar General toll free at 1-800-461-2156 or in Toronto at 416-325-8305 for more information.

Congratulations Ashley and Adam!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:52:00 +0000

June 7th, 2009

The Toronto Wedding Chapel

COMBINATION OFFSITE/ONSITE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:45:00 +0000

You already know that the Toronto Wedding Chapel has a fantastic photographer, but did you know that he is available for photography offsite as well? For most brides their wedding day becomes a blur of nervous activity. How much of it will you actually remember afterwards aside from the anecdotes told by friends and family? Now you won’t have to miss a thing. We offer combination offsite/onsite wedding photography packages for as many hours as you require so that you can document your entire day, capturing every moment of this unforgettable experience – indoor, outdoor, home, last minute shopping, lunch, hair and make-up, getting dressed or maybe not, travel to the Chapel, the wedding, the reception, and the send off – all captured for posterity. Instead of just wedding portraits and a few candid shots you will have captured the entire experience and every emotion of the day.

Here are a just few of our fantastic packages. We will be delighted to customize a wedding photography package just for you that will meet your exact requirements and your budget. The photographs are always of the highest quality and we provide high resolution images on DVD with every package. This means you can print extra copies for friends and family.

Picture This

Four hours of wedding day coverage
High resolution DVD with 200 images

Unforgettable

Seven hours of wedding day coverage
Wedding album with up to 50 images
High resolution DVD with 400 images

Together Forever

Ten hours of wedding day coverage
Wedding album – 20 pages with up to 70 images
Parents’ album – 20 pages with up to 40 images
High resolution DVD with 400 images
Online gallery of all photographs

BLACK & WHITE WEDDINGS ARE HOTTER THAN EVER!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Although black and white weddings have been around for quite a while, the black and white weddings of 2009 are in a class by themselves. They offer a return to glamour and sophistication, highlighting a retro 40s look. How can you pull off a spectacular black and white wedding? Here are some ideas that you can combine to create the ultimate black and white wedding.

Décor:

Combine shades, textures, and prints
If you want an accent shade, use red or a metallic
White tablecloths with black napkins or black tablecloths with white napkins
White flower arrangements in black vases
Black candles

Bridal attire:

Sleek lines – no pouf or ruffles
White wedding dress
Black wedding dress
Evening gloves are an elegant addition
Large hats
Retro jewelry
Classic pumps
Red lipstick

Bridesmaids’ attire:

Black dresses

Groom’s attire:

Tuxedo
White dinner jacket
Pinstripes

Transportation:

Vintage car

Music:

Big band
Jazz band

Flowers:

Red roses
White orchids
Black and white roses
Black and white tulips

Wedding cake:

Round white cake with black dots
Black satin band on a white cake
Black icing with white accents

Congratulations Carla and Craig!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:41:00 +0000

April 19th, 2009
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

HOW TO AVOID BECOMING A BRIDEZILLA

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Bridezillas are not mythical beasts who roamed the world in prehistoric times. They are a group of modern day brides who experience a form of temporary insanity upon becoming engaged, mutating into overbearing, domineering, neurotic, obnoxious perfectionists. With a hyper-inflated sense of self-importance they make everyone in their sphere as miserable as possible until their wedding day. I think that the fiancés who tolerate Bridezillas should either get a gold watch and a testimonial dinner for hanging in or therapy for low self-esteem.

What is to blame for creating this condition? The culprit is the stress of planning and coordinating a wedding. How can you avoid becoming a Bridezilla?

Hire a professional wedding planner and let him/her deal with the stress.
Accept the fact that perfection doesn’t exist. Let go of unrealistic expectations and enjoy the experience.
Don’t get worked up over every little detail. It’s counterproductive, not to mention ridiculous.
You can’t control everything. Throw your hands up in the air, take a deep breath, and have a Zen moment.
Don’t forget your fiancé. It’s not all about you. It’s his day too.
Ask for help if you need it. You are not omnipotent in spite of your best efforts.
Don’t make the wedding the focus of everything. Life goes on.
Be considerate to your friends and family. They are there to love and support you, not tolerate bad behavior and abuse.
Once you’ve made a decision on something, don’t change your mind every time you pick up another bridal magazine.
Let the professionals do their jobs.

BRIDAL BOUQUETS CAN CONVEY A MESSAGE

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Believe it or not, flowers have a language all their own and it is called floriography. It all began in Turkey in the 1600s. By the time the English and the French began traveling to Turkey in the 1800s, the Turks had a well established language based on the different flower meanings. In the early 1900s Lord Montague was the British Ambassador to Constantinople, now called Istanbul. His wife Lady Mary Montague first became acquainted with how flower meanings were used while visiting the Sultan's court. So taken with the language of flowers was Lady Montague that she introduced the concept to Victorian England where it was wholeheartedly embraced and integrated into Victorian culture. The sexually repressed Victorians finally had a safe outlet for expressing their love for each other and floral arrangements became the vehicles for transmitting those secret messages.

The meanings of different flowers can be so precise that in ancient times they were successfully used to transmit secret military messages. However the meanings of flowers can vary greatly and in fact there are now many books on floriography which at times contradict each other. Colour can also change the meaning of a flower as well as its placement in an arrangement. Let’s have a look at some of the popular flowers and their meanings. Perhaps that will inspire you to create a bridal bouquet that has a secret meaning.

The meanings of roses:

Red - the traditional symbol for love and romance
Pink - symbolic of grace and elegance, they express admiration, appreciation, and joy
Yellow – symbolic of warmth, happiness, and true friendship
White – symbolic of innocence and purity and are traditionally associated with marriages and new beginnings
Orange – symbolic of desire, passion, and excitement
Lavender – symbolic of enchantment and love at first sight

The meanings of other popular bridal flowers:

Stephanotis – Marital Happiness
Tulips – Perfect lover
Violet – Modesty and affection
Sweetpea – Blissful pleasure
Orchid – Love and the Chinese symbol for many children
Iris – Promise in love
Chrysanthemum – Abundance and wealth
Carnation – Devoted love
Calla Lily – Magnificent beauty
Aster – Symbol of love

Congratulations Tara and Ian!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:16:00 +0000

April 25th, 2009
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

THERE IS MORE TO WEDDING CHINA THAN PRETTY PATTERNS

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:34:00 +0000

We tend to lump all dishes into one category – China. That however is far from the truth. In fact dinnerware comes in a variety of fabrications.

Earthenware - Thick, opaque, porous-bodied dinnerware made from clay
Stoneware - Hard dinnerware made of a single light clay and fired at a high temperature
Porcelain - Hard, translucent clayware that differs slightly from china in ingredients and manufacturing processes
China - Nonporous type of clayware made of special white clay and fired at exceptionally high temperatures

All China is not created equal either. Bone China is made with real or synthetic bone ash to add bright white coloring. Very high quality China will have a translucency to it. If you hold a plate up to a bright light and put your hand at the back of the plate, you should be able to see your hand through the plate. Fine China is vitreous (nonporous) dinnerware with great translucency.

When you register for dinnerware, the shop will generally refer to all of it as China – Formal or Casual. Formal China is generally more expensive and includes Porcelain, Bone China, and Fine China. Casual China is generally less expensive and includes Earthenware and Stoneware. Traditionally brides register for two sets of China – Casual China for everyday and Formal China for entertaining or special occasions, but that is certainly not necessary. It’s all a matter of taste. Personally I use a set of white Formal China everyday.

It is generally recommended that you purchase service for 8 or 12, which means 8 or 12 place settings. Casual China usually comes in 4-piece place settings - dinner plate, salad/dessert plate, soup/cereal bowl, and mug. Formal China usually comes in 5-piece place settings - dinner plate, salad/dessert plate, bread plate, and a cup and saucer. There are always serving pieces offered as well – tea pot, coffee pot, cream and sugar, salt and pepper, gravy boat, serving bowls, and platters.

Now is the time to look at the pretty patterns or solid colours. Mix and match. Be adventurous and have fun. Your China is just another element of your home décor.

Congratulations Gloria and Jacob!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:51:00 +0000

May 16th, 2009
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

COULD YOU WIN THE UGLIEST BRIDESMAID’S DRESS CONTEST?

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:39:00 +0000

I don’t think that there is a woman alive who hasn’t had her share of ugly bridesmaid dresses. My two contenders would be a vile powder blue creation which was rivaled by an even worse burgundy gown inflicted upon me by my now ex-sister-in-law who clearly didn’t like me. I really thought that my dresses could have won a contest until I came across a website called Ugly Dress. After looking at some of the posted dresses, mine looked like haute couture. Ugly bridesmaid dresses are such a popular topic of conversation that last year a movie called “27 Dresses” was released in theatres about a woman who had been a bridesmaid 27 times and had 27 ugly dresses to prove it. Alas, I feel like a failure with only 2 outings. If truth be told, I was asked to be a bridesmaid a third time and refused. The thought of dishing out all kinds of money for yet another ugly dress was too much for me. The good news is that the friendship is still in tact in spite of my refusal.

Have you ever thought about how to put ugly bridesmaid dresses to good use and have some fun? Plan an Ugly Bridesmaid Dress Party. Everyone gets to wear the worst offender in their closet. If you have multiple offenders, don’t hog them all for yourself. Invite your friends over and let them borrow one of your dresses for the event. An Ugly Bridesmaid Dress Party is a great all girls’ event or invite the guys along and see if you can get them to dress up in their old tuxedos or dinner jackets. The Toronto Wedding Chapel is the perfect locale for your party. We can take care of all of the arrangements for you – wine and food pairings, food stations, full bar, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, music, and more. Give us a call to organize your Ugly Bridesmaid Dress Party. Don’t those ugly bridesmaid dresses deserve one last hurrah?

Congratulations Sarah and Neil!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Hi Katherine,

We just wanted to thank you for everything you did for us. Our wedding was perfect, everything from the lovely officiant to the decorations to the cake and food were just we wanted. We had such a great time as did our family and friends who loved the venue and the party. You definitely made me the most stress-free bride ever as I had nothing to worry about but find a dress and show up!

Thanks again, you guys were fabulous!

Sarah & Neil

May 2nd, 2009
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

NOT ALL BRIDES ARE A SIZE 2

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Every bride dreams of finding the perfect wedding dress. However, I’ve often heard the complaint that many bridal gowns seem to be designed for human stick figures and not real women. Ladies, don’t despair. Many designers make exquisite bridal gowns up to size 24. It may take a little more effort to find the bridal shops that carry larger size samples, but the hunt will be worth it. Plus size wedding gowns are also available from many online bridal shops. The only downside is that you can’t try anything on. There are many lovely bridal gowns that flatter the full figure. The shapes that are recommended for fuller figures are:

A-line: This shape highlights the upper body and floats away from the lower body without clinging. This is a great choice when you want to camouflage your lower half.

Princess Cut: This shape is similar to an a-line, but it has no seam at the waist creating a nice, long line. This is a great choice if you want to hide a larger bottom.

Tank Style: This is a great option with cap sleeves, three-quarter sleeves, or sheer sleeves for brides that are not comfortable with strapless or sleeveless dresses.

Fabrics that are more substantial like duchesse satin, taffeta, mikado and dupioni/silk shantung are excellent choices are they will not cling to the body. Charmeuse, chiffon, and crepe have a tendency to show the bits that you would prefer remain hidden. Every bride deserves to have the wedding dress of her dreams and what ever your size, your dress is out there. Just have a little patience and don’t be discouraged because you are not a size 2.

Congratulations Lou Ann and Steven!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:40:00 +0000

December 27th, 2008
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

DO YOU KNOW THE ORIGINS OF COMMON WEDDING TRADITIONS?

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:39:00 +0000

We take wedding traditions for granted. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Every bride knows this rhyme and follows the tradition, but how did it get started? This tradition began in Victorian times and each part of the rhyme is symbolic.

Something Old - represents the bond to the bride's family and her old life
Something New – represents the couple's new life together and their future hope for happiness, prosperity and success
Something Borrowed - from a happily married woman is meant to bring similar happiness to the bride
Something blue - represents fidelity and constancy

Why does a bride wear white? This tradition is attributed to Queen Victoria. The royals always wore silver, but Queen Victoria wore white and started the trend. The colour white symbolizes virginity and was thought to ward off evil spirits.

Why does a bride wear a veil? The veil is symbolic of youth and virginity.

Why does a groom wear a boutonniere? This tradition began in medieval times when a knight wore his lady's colors, through flowers, as a statement of his love.

Why is a wedding ring round? It symbolizes eternal love.

Why do we wear a wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand? The ancient Egyptians believed the vein of love ran directly from the third finger of the left hand to the heart.

Why does a couple kiss at the end of the wedding ceremony? This tradition dates back to Roman times when the kiss symbolized the couples’ commitment to a life together and the joining of their souls.

Why do we throw rice? Rice is symbolic of fertility so by throwing it on the couple we are bestowing them with fertility.

Why does a couple share the first piece of wedding cake? This tradition dates back to Roman times when the wheat used to bake the cake was symbolic of fertility and the sweetness was supposed to bring the couple a sweet life. They shared the first piece of cake to symbolize the union.

DO YOU HAVE THE TACKIEST WEDDING GIFT HIDING IN YOUR CLOSET?

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:37:00 +0000

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been stuck with an absolutely dreadful wedding gift that couldn’t be returned and that you would never have the nerve to re-gift. So, it remains hidden somewhere in the closet, never to see the light of day – until now. I was invited to an absolutely brilliant party where everyone had to bring their tackiest wedding gift. Anyone that was invited and never married was asked to bring along their tackiest gift, so all of your friends, married or single can be included in the event. A long table was set up to display the gifts and you would not believe the hidden gems that were unearthed! The old adage “One Man’s Heaven is Another Man’s Hell” did prove to be accurate. It didn’t take long before the party guests were finding the items on the table interesting, which may in fact have had something to do with the lovely wine that was served. At the end of the evening everyone went home with a gift. I should really follow up and find out if the gifts actually saw the light of day once they were home or if they were once again relegated to the closet waiting for the next TACKIEST WEDDING GIFT PARTY.

Hold your own TACKIEST WEDDING GIFT PARTY at the Toronto Wedding Chapel Event Space. It’s great fun and gives everyone a chance to purge their closets of dreadful gifts. We can organize a great cocktail or dinner party for your group with enough wine and spirits to make any ugly gift look good. Choose from a fabulous selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, full bar service, wine bar, martini bar, wine and food pairings, food stations, or sit down meal service. It’s a fabulous evening with great friends, great food, great wine, and some very interesting gifts.

Congratulations Aviva and Xavier!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:33:00 +0000

Hi Katherine and Everton,

Xavier and I want to thank you for helping to make our special day so memorable! The chapel looked beautiful and everything went off without a hitch. The Web cast was truly the icing on the cake! Our family and friends from France were able to watch the ceremony live and felt like they were with us. Thank you so much for installing it - it really meant a lot to us knowing that our loved ones were watching. Everyone in attendance loved the TWC. So simple and elegant.

I'm attaching a photo of Xavier and me from 1988. We will be sure to send you pictures from the reception in Paris in June.

As for our story: Xavier and I met Sept. 22, 1987 in an elementary school in Paris, France, when I moved to France with my family. Xavier and I became good friends and I knew he had a crush on me. My family moved back to Canada, after a year and a half, in 1988. Xavier would send me love letters - some of which I still have. We lost touch, but I often thought of him and wondered what he was up to. I found Xavier on the internet through a mutual friend in 2002, and we e-mailed once in a while. I was so happy when I found my friend again nearly 20 years later. We saw each other again for the first time in 17 years later Dec. 27, 2006 in Paris while I was visiting my family. I never expected we would fall in love. After two years of long-distance, Xavier moved to Canada in October 2008.

Thanks again for everything! It was a wonderful day!

Aviva & Xavier

April 19th, 2009
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

GLAMOROUS WEDDINGS ON A BUDGET ARE POSSIBLE

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:07:00 +0000

If you are like most people today, you are concerned about money and you may be rethinking your plans for the wedding of your dreams. Wait! You don’t have to sacrifice your dreams for your budget. The two are not mutually exclusive of each other and can actually coexist quite harmoniously together. Do what many couples are doing and don’t give anything up, just scale it down. At the end of the day although a large wedding may have been a nice idea, the only people that really need to be in attendance are your closest friends and family.

The Toronto Wedding Chapel is Toronto’s premier location for intimate and glamorous weddings on a small scale. We can comfortably accommodate 25 guests in our exquisite space. The only thing small is the number of people in attendance, not the quality of amenities or the selection of options available. Please browse our sample packages at your leisure. Every element of your dream wedding has been taken into account.

We are professional wedding planners who have years of experience transforming wedding dreams into reality. Brides and grooms can rest assured that your wedding can be both glamorous and elegant, even on a budget. You can serve the best champagne and the finest food captured on film or video by a first class photographer/videographer. The only difference will be the number of people in attendance. Instead of a large wedding, your wedding will be an intimate affair of the highest quality and it will be most memorable to those people in your life that matter the most.

Congratulations Amber and Muhammad!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:19:00 +0000

March 29th, 2009
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

THE HOTTEST WEDDING COLOURS FOR 2009

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:12:00 +0000

In years past there was a single hot wedding colour. This year there are interesting combinations of muted shades offset by exciting bold accents.

Gray continues to be a popular wedding colour, but in 2009 it is not being used solo. Bright shades are being used to spice up the look – add a brightly coloured sash, decorate with spectacular florals in dramatic shades, order a brightly coloured wedding cake or at least use a bright colour for the trim. One of the hottest combinations is gray and pink. Any shade of pink will do from pastel to bubble gum neon shades, particularly for summer weddings. Yellow, orange, and peach are being used successfully together for spring and summer weddings, outdoor weddings, or to create or enhance a tropical theme. They can be used throughout the wedding including décor, florals, and bridesmaids’ dresses.

If these combinations seem a little too youthful or girly, a very sophisticated look is silver and purple. These colours will work throughout the year, including for winter weddings and will be ideal for mature couples or for second or third marriages. Brown is still a popular choice, but in 2009 it is not used alone but as a combination with cream, glittering gold, bold orange, hot pink or one of the hottest home décor combinations – brown and blue.

The important thing to remember is that the trends are meant to be used as guidelines and you should ultimately choose what ever will make you happy. One of my friends had always dreamed of a pastel blue wedding and when the time came it didn’t matter to her what the current trends were. She had her pastel blue wedding and 32 years later she is still delighted that she did.

Congratulations Sara and Philippe!

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:15:00 +0000

Hi Katherine,

You know, it's a shame that you're only supposed to get married once, because we had such a great time at our wedding, that we'd love to do it again. We wanted to thank you for helping us make the day so memorable. We both had a great time, and our guests commented on how intimate, heartfelt and effortlessly joyful the day was. You run a pretty fantastic operation there.

Best,
Philippe and Sara

March 6th, 2009
The Toronto Wedding Chapel

HOW TO CHOOSE AN ENGAGEMENT RING

noreply@blogger.com (The Toronto Wedding Chapel) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:12:00 +0000

Most people love to look at diamonds, but how much do we really know about them? Considering how much they cost we should know what we are getting into before taking the plunge. Here is a primer on diamonds. The diamond grading system is referred to as the 4Cs – Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat.

Cut – the actual angles and proportions that affect how a diamond shines, not the shape.

Colour – the rarest diamonds are colourless and are classified as DEF. The other colour classifications in descending order are GH, IJ, KL, M – Z.

Clarity – refers to the natural impurities of a diamond. The clarity grading system is based on a standard 10X magnification. FL is flawless and IF is internally flawless. These are extremely rare and valuable. VVS1 (very, very slight inclusions) and VVS2 (slightly lower quality than VVS1) are extremely high quality. The other grades in descending order are VS1 (very slight inclusions, grade 1), VS2 (very slight inclusions, grade 2), SI1 (slightly included, grade 1), SI2 (slightly included, grade 2), I1 (included), and I2-I3 (very, badly included).

Carat – the weight, not the size of a diamond, with 100 points equaling one carat. A diamond may look larger but be of lesser weight, depending on how it is cut.

Once you have made a decision on a diamond, it’s time to choose a metal for the setting. Gold and platinum are the most common. Gold is available in 18kt, 14kt, or 9kt and may be white, yellow, pink, or any combination thereof. The popular choice is 18kt gold.

Now it’s up to your personal taste and lifestyle. You should absolutely love your engagement ring. It should be practical and easy to wear because you are going to be wearing it every day. Make sure that you purchase your ring from a reputable jeweler so that you can be sure that you are going to get what you pay for.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!