KEEP 'EM COMING!

We're only two weeks into Viva la wedding's Inspiration Board Contest and the entries are pouring in. There are so many creative brides out there! Keep 'em coming, and good luck!

VIVA LA WEDDING'S INSPIRATION BOARD CONTEST!

Viva la wedding hopes you're full of inspiration because the contest you've been waiting for is here - One lucky couple is going to win free Wedding Day Management from Viva la wedding!

1st prize - Wedding Day Management includes:

Initial consultation:

• Informal discussion (via phone, email or in person) of ceremony location, reception venue, rough timelines, theme/style of wedding, services and expectations, etc

Six to eight weeks prior to wedding day:

• In depth planning meeting to review progress since initial consultation and discuss wedding day in detail *
• Obtain copies of all vendor contracts
• Contact vendors and inform them of wedding day assistance and confirm contract details (deliveries, set up times, etc)
• Create wedding day timelines
• Create checklist of items needed for ceremony and reception
• Ongoing consultation via phone and email throughout the six to eight weeks

Week prior to wedding day:

• Meeting to finalize wedding day details *
• Pick up all personal items (programs, guest book, cake knife, card box, etc)
• Attend and lead rehearsal on absence of on-site church coordinator

*One of these should be an on-site venue meeting

Wedding day:

• Manage wedding day timelines
• Coordinate vendor arrival and set-up at ceremony and reception venue
• Assist with basic décor as agreed upon (seating chart, place cards, guest favours, etc)
• Distribute remaining vendor payments and gratuities
• Crisis management
• Use of wedding day emergency kit
• Assistant included (if required)
• Supervision of vendor tear-down (if requested)

Post wedding:

• Follow up with bride & groom

2nd prize - $400 off Wedding Day Management includes:

Initial consultation:

• Informal discussion (via phone, email or in person) of ceremony location, reception venue, rough timelines, theme/style of wedding, services and expectations, pricing, etc

After the initial consultation, should you wish to hire Viva la wedding to manage your wedding day, you will receive $400 off the total fee.

3rd prize - Colin Cowie Wedding Chic

With limitless options, it can be hard for a bride and groom to know where to begin.

Comprehensive and clearly organized into chapters covering all of the celebration—from bouquets to cakes and food, invitations to dresses and reception décor—Colin Cowie Wedding Chic will quickly become the go-to resource for every wedding.

From the first task of determining the overall mood you want to capture to the final, last-moment preparations, Colin Cowie provides expert advice, unique ideas, and inspiring photographs of more than 1,001 gorgeous details.

Colin Cowie Wedding Chic is the ultimate guide to choosing the elements that will turn a special day into an event to remember forever.

How to enter:

- Create an inspiration board for your upcoming wedding and send it to us via email, subject line 'Wedding Day Management Contest', along with the following information:
- Bride and groom's name, address and all contact information
- Wedding date
- Ceremony and reception location
- Approximate number of guests
- Theme/style of wedding and any other details you'd like to include

Sample inspiration board:

Rules:

- Wedding dates must be in 2009 or 2010 and subject to availability
- Weddings must take place in the Ottawa, ON area. If your wedding is outside of the Ottawa, ON area and you still want to enter you must be able to provide Viva la wedding with transportation and hotel accomodations for at least two nights (night prior and night of wedding) should you win
- Entries must be received by noon on Tuesday June 30/09
- Limit one entry per couple
- Winning couple must sign a contract listing our services and obligations to them as well as their responsibilities to us

Good luck!

THIS MONTH'S VIVA LA WEDDING Q&A

Q - My church/ceremony/reception location has an on-site coordinator. Why would I need another one?

A - When there is an on-site coordinator Viva la wedding does not infringe on, but is rather a compliment to, the work they do. On-site coordinators specialize in the services they offer 'on-site', just as your florist specializes in creating beautiful bouquets and your photographer specializes in capturing the emotion of your day. Professional wedding coordinators are experienced in seeing the big picture and smoothly bringing all the components of your wedding together.

WHAT'S IN YOUR BAG?

Strapped on her shoulder, sometimes mistaken for an extra limb, an experienced wedding coordinator will never be caught without her wedding day emergency kit close at hand and while on the surface each kit may appear as unique as the coordinator carrying it, their contents are all the same - items you, as a bride, might need on your wedding day that no one else will seem to have.

The International Traveller Loop Handle Vanity Case in black was my pick but they can also be found in a ton of fun colours/designs and the interior doesn't dissapoint, keeping it's contents perfectly organized so items are easy to find. What items you're wondering? Well it’s not What’s in your bag? you should be asking but rather What isn’t? and when the reply you receive is Everything but the kitchen sink! we’re not kidding.

Bride’s Lipstick/Makeup

Makeup Brushes
Brush/Comb
Hair Pins/Elastics
Hair Spray/Gel
Clear Nail Polish
Nail Polish Remover
Nail File
Nail Clippers

Tweezers
Tooth Brush/Tooth Paste

Dental Floss
Mouth Wash
Breath Mints

Aquafina Hydrating Lip Oil
Nylons
Baby Powder
Vaseline

Hand Cream

Deodorant

Mirror

Kleenex
Cotton Balls/Swabs
Qtips
Visine

Tylenol/Advil/Aspirin

Allergy/Sinus Medication
Safety Pins
Corsage Pins
Sewing Kit
White Chalk

Shoe Laces
Shoe Polish
Tide Pen
Wine Out
Static Guard
Lint Brush
Band-Aids
Insect Repellent

After Bite
Sunscreen

Evian Water Atomizer

Wet Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Duct Tape

Double Sided Tape
Scotch Tape

Adhesive Velcro
Flashlight
Batteries
Lighter
Scissors
Umbrella

We’ve all heard our parents say It’s better to be safe than sorry and as much as we hate to admit it, this time they’re right.

WEDDING PLANNERS INSTITUTE OF CANADA (WPIC)

Would you hire a wedding coordinator who wasn’t WPIC certified?

So much of your time and money goes into planning the perfect day, don’t trust that just anyone has the ability to capture your vision and execute it flawlessly. Certified WPIC coordinators are held to higher standards than just your regular planner. They are required to abide by the WPIC Code of Ethics or risk losing their certification and being disbarred.

When interviewing potential planners, ask if they’re certified and look to see if the WPIC button is displayed on their website.

YOU'RE ENGAGED!

He got down on one knee, put the ring on your finger, popped the question and you said yes.
Congratulations! You’re engaged! Now the fun begins…
But who ever said planning a wedding was easy? It can be!

With today’s hectic lifestyle, hiring a wedding coordinator has become the norm.
The key is to not only find someone who shares your enthusiasm and can minimize your stress,

but more importantly someone you can trust to coordinate what most couples describe

as the biggest day of their lives.

Our goal is to ensure your wedding day is all that you imagined.

Each wedding we’re involved with is as

unique and special as the next, truly reflecting the couple’s own personality and style.
While we do have vendors we prefer to work with based on their reputation and our own experiences with them, we take the time to investigate all options, matching you with vendors who will
exceed your expectations without neglecting your budget.

We don’t make the decisions for you, but rather help you make informed decisions.

After all it’s your day, the day you’ve always dreamed of, and Viva la wedding wants to make sure

all your dreams come true.

Photo Credits: Tiffany & Co.