Real Wedding: Adrienne & Bryan Sept. 10, 2011

Adrienne & Bryan's Wedding has to be one of our all time favourites! Having already married two of Bryan's sisters, working with this couple was so rewarding! Something that stood our right away with Adrienne & Bryan was their attention to detail in tying together their colour scheme of purples and silvers to all areas of the wedding as well as their focus on making their wedding an absolute blast for all of their family and friends.

Photo credits: John Bauld Photography

A few 2011 Highlights...

2011 was an incredible year for LKWD. We had the opportunity to work with so many amazing couples, each unique and eager to show their commitment to each other. We also had the pleasure of working on some Corporate Gala's that were too much fun! We want to Thank all of you for a wonderful 2011, and for letting us into your lives in such a special way. Our last event is next weekend, and that will be it for the 2011 Wedding Season :( .

Here are only a few of the 2011 highlights...

Looking forward to 2012!

xo

L&K

( Thank you to the following photographers... Rachel A Clingen, Calculated Style, E-Photography, John Bauld, Kate Hood)

Flowers of the Season

As we move into the Fall and Winter months, we often have Brides asking us what flowers are available for their weddings. Many of the Floral designers that we work with have access to any flowers at any time of year, but if the flower your desire is off season, it will usually cost more to get and they cannot guarentee the colour of them, seeing as they will be grown oversees in a greenhouse. Most bulb flowers ( i.e. Peonies) will be closed when they arrive if you try to get them in the winter for example.

So, if you are trying to keep within the possibilities locally for your fall or winter wedding, these are some of my personal favourites!


Fall Wedding Florals:

1. Mango Calla Lilies.

These rich mango coloured calla's are such a beautiful flower for the Autumn months.

2. Dahlias

I love the soft pink colour of this Dahlia and Rose bouquet! I'm also a big fan of any type of floral accent like these crystal centers! Looks like a brooch.

3. Zinnia

These are a traditional Chinese flower that come in a variety of colours. Stunningly vibrant!

4. Ranunculus

These little cuties are growing (pardon the pun) very popular! They also come in a variety of shades and are adorable! we have also seen many Brides getting their Cake Designers to mimic these flowers on their cakes!

Winter Wedding Flowers

1. Amaryllis

These are great because they have a large head. They fill a large space in a vase or bouquet and have maximum impact. These are beautiful!

2. Hanging Amaranthus

This is a great accent for any centerpiece or Aisle piece as seen below. It gives almost an enchanted forest feeling to any decor theme.

3. Sweet Peas

Most people have seen these in white, but I love the soft purple colour as well! Since purple seemed to be the on-trend wedding colour of 2011, I wanted to share this!

4. Anemones

These are simply incredible, no? The black centers are the perfect compliment to a wedding that has black in its colour scheme. Love them!

Hope these inspire you!

Kelly xoxo

Something Blue...

Came across this fabulous array of Blue Wedding Shoes on Aisle Candy while surfing the web tonight! Just had to share them with you all! Love Love Love the Gucci rhinestone peeptoes (bottom left!) We are seeing a big trend this season with blue wedding shoes, even if blue is not in the particular colour scheme. I personally love it and think it's really fun!

Row 1 (L to R) Christian Louboutin, Paris Hilton, Paris Hilton
Row 2 (L to R) Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Bradgley Mischka
Row 3 (L to R) Christian Louboutin, Ivanka Trump, Loriblu
Row 4 (L to R) Jessica Simpson, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci

Your LKWD Shoe Enthusiast,
Kelly xo

Canadian Wedding Costs 101...

Successfully planning a wedding very much relies on being able to successfully budget for your wedding. However, I've come to notice that many couple's quickly find themselves in a struggle of dream vs. reality; They dreamed of wedding that in reality costs a lot more than expected. As a wedding planner, part of our job is to help our clients get the most value for their money, but sometimes it's a real challenge to bring a clients vision to life because the dream they come to you with, is severely under-priced in their mind compared to the reality of what things cost.

This article is our way of sharing with you what weddings in 2011 really cost. We wanted to be able to share with couples what the normal rates are in the wedding world so that they can dream within their scope of reality and know what they're walking into when they begin to meet with vendors. There will always be options under these average costs, and quotes that come in way over. We know some couples will read this article and say, "Well my venue was only $100 per person," and that's to be expected. There are great deals to be had, but for the sake of general education, here is what we've come to expect as planners in the Canadian Wedding Industry!

VENUE:
If you're going with a regular all inclusive food and alcohol banquet hall, the average cost we're seeing with tax and gratuities included is around $120-$150 per head. If you're going with a more original venue such as a museum or historic building that requires you to also bring in a caterer and rentals (chairs, tables, place settings, glass ware, furniture, lighting etc.), expect to pay at least $200 per head.

DJ & AV:
The average DJ service for the night for a DJ/MC is $1200-$1500. If you want extra AV elements, expect something around the following:
- Intelligent lights: $100-$150 each
- Up lights for the room: $25-$50 each
- Pin lighting for guest tables: $18-$25 per table
- Use of in house AV screen: $100-200 each
- Dry Ice for special dances: $100-$175
- Custom Monograms with Lights: $200-$250 each

LIVE BAND:
If you're considering a live band for the night in place of a DJ, expect to spend starting $4,000 easily.

LIVE ENTERTAINERS:
Many couples are bringing in about a half hour to an hour of special entertainment like string ensembles, drummers, violinists, pianists. Be prepared to budget at least $400-$500 for no more than 30-60 minutes of any of the above. If you're looking for a whole team of dancers for a 30 minute set, be prepared to pay between $500-$800.

FLOWERS:
Real flowers aren't cheap, but neither are artificial ones. Any good artificial flower will easily be double the cost of a real one. For that reason, we suggest keeping it real with these real life average costs:
- Bridal Bouquet: $150-$200
- Bridesmaid Bouquet: $70-$100 each
- Corsages: $15-20 each
- Boutonnieres: $10-15 each
- Alter arrangement: $45-$75
- Large Ceremony Fresh Floral Arrangements on Pedestals: $200-$400 each
- Pew Arrangements: $15-30 each
- Flower Girl Baskets/Kissing Balls: $25-40 each
- Centerpieces: Low vase: $50-$100/ High vase: $80-$130
- Candelabra/Crystal Chandelier Rentals for Centerpieces: $40-$65
- Low and Long for Head Table: $125-$150

DECOR:
Decor is one way to create ambiance at your wedding and bring your theme to life, but it does come at a cost.
Backdrops: $700-$1500
Head table and Cake Table decor (linens, candles, flowers, accents): $500-$1000
Linens: $18-$25
Napkins: $2-$4
Napkin Rings: $2-$4
Charger Plates: $2-$5
Runners: $6-$10
Overlays: $10-$15
Chivari or Ghost Chairs: $8-$10

PHOTOGRAPHER:
An experienced photographer will cost you anywhere from $3000-$5000 for full day coverage, usually including an engagement shoot and second shooter on the wedding day.

VIDEOGRAPHER:
An experienced photographer will cost you anywhere from $2500-$4500 for full day coverage, usually including a second camera and moderate to extensive editing.

CAKE:
The average 3-4 tier wedding cake can easily run you anywhere from $500-$1000 depending on flavours and design. When it comes to wedding cakes, the more detailed the design, the more it will cost you. Time equals money and a simple cake can be done in half the time of an equal sized but way more detailed custom cake.

TRANSPORTATION:
Most limo packages are for a standard 6 hours (that can not be broken up). Using 6hours as a base, expect to pay around $800 for a stretch limo, $1100-$1300 for an SUV limo, and $1800-$2400 for a limo bus (depending on size). Night pick ups for the bride and groom are always extra!

HAIR AND MAKE UP:
Bridal hair is usually around $120, and slightly less for a trail. Bridal make-up is usually around $100 and slightly less for a trial. Bridesmaids tend to be a little cheaper than the bride for make-up and up-dos.

TUX RENTALS:
The average full piece tux rental with shoes, tie, vests and pocket square will run you anywhere from $140-$160 on average.

BRIDAL ATTIRE:
The new average we're seeing when it comes to gowns, shoes, veil, accessories is between $2500-$4000.

CHURCH FEES:
Most churches have a set fee to host your wedding ceremony which usually amounts to a cost of $400-$600.

CUSTOM INVITES/STATIONARY:
Custom invites are a beautiful way to infuse your personality into your wedding. Prices are often structured based on the quantity order, but be prepared to pay between $5-$8 depending on design style. If you're planning to match wedding programs, place cards, menus and table numbers to your invites, be prepared to shell out a few hundred more on top of the invite cost.

So there you have it... the general things couples will consider when planning a wedding and the general costs. We truly feel that every couple deserves to have a wedding that is uniquely their own and full of all of their wildest expectations! Hopefully in the last few minutes, we've given you a little more insight about what to expect those expectations to cost.

Happy Planning!
L&K
xoxo

2012 Booking Fast!

Attention Couples of 2012!

We are pleased to announce that dates for 2012 are filling up quickly! We are thrilled that there is so much love in the air and 2012 is going to be a great year for fabulous weddings!

September is also the hottest new month for weddings it seems, as we have nothing available for 2011, so if you are considering a September 2012 wedding...book now!

Call or email us to inquire about our packages, whether you are interested in Full Wedding Planning or Wedding Day coordination...perhaps even something in between....our "first date" meeting is always complimentary and always no-obligation!

Dates for 2011 are limited, but call to inquire! We'd love to help you plan a well executed and absolutley unforgettable wedding experience for you and your guests!

Happy Planning!
L&K
xoxo