Engaged Canadians can find ideas or inspiration for their upcoming nuptials nearly anywhere, especially in the Old English folk rhyme “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe.” This verse originated out of the old superstition that a new bride needed to defend her marriage against bad fortune with blessings of fertility and prosperity. When it comes to your special day, there are many details that require your attention and creativity. Let’s talk about some creative ways to implement “something borrowed” in your wedding day plans.
Thank You for the Music
Music is an important aspect of your big day. From a selection performed at your ceremony to the playlist at your reception, you can merge the joy of music with the concept of borrowing. Did your or your partner’s parents have a special song that they played for the first dance at their wedding? Pay honor and start a new tradition by “borrowing” this same song for your first dance. Let’s suppose your parents danced to Lionel Richie and Diana Ross’s classic duet “Endless Love.” You could repurpose this song for a joint dance with your parents.
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
Have you ever been responsible for a holiday menu or turned to a loved one for a time-honored, treasured recipe for a favorite dish? Why not do the same for your wedding? Maybe a relative or a friend makes a mean fruit pie or poutine gravy that’s to die for. You can “borrow” these recipes and incorporate them into your wedding-day eats. If you’re working with a caterer, perhaps you don’t have to use the exact recipe but you achieve the same symbolic gesture by including a dish of significance on the menu. You’re not limited to food, by the way. Think of a favorite cocktail from a restaurant or bar you love, like the Canadian classic, the Caesar cocktail. Borrow it for your celebration.
Ideas With Words
If you and your future spouse are writing your own words, you can incorporate words from the vows of dear family and friends for your own. If this sounds like a good plan, be sure to do it with the blessing of the persons whose special moment is inspiring yours. While your wedding vows should come from the heart, sometimes you find a poet, author, or songwriter has perfectly captured your feelings in a work. Why reinvent the wheel when you’ve got a luxury “Cadillac” that gets you where you want to go?
(Baby, You Can) Drive My Car
Driving off from your wedding reception in a car is often the perfect coda for your celebration. Ordinarily, you could drive your own vehicle or hire a driver with a luxury ride for this sendoff. Have you considered borrowing an automobile from someone in your village? Perhaps you know someone who has a vintage auto or something fancy and is willing to contribute to your nuptials in this way.
Diamonds and Pearls As an Ideas
It’s fairly common to incorporate jewelry and family heirlooms as borrowed items for your big day, especially rings, veils, and dresses. Consider these other ways of implementing these meaningful objects:
Jewelry: Instead of wearing a ring or brooch, make it a part of a bouquet for a bride or other members of the wedding party.
Décor: Use items of significance to loved ones in your table settings or other decorations.
Invitations: Use photos or pictures of others’ belongings in your invitations, printed or digital.
Take extra-special care when using others’ possessions that are extremely valuable or otherwise difficult to repair or replace.
Borrowing ideas, items, and concepts from your nearest and dearest helps make your nuptials more special. This is one of the reasons this tradition inspired by old folklore has endured across generations and cultures. Temporary gifts contrast with the long-term love offered by a spouse, family, and friends.
Canada has many beautiful locations for a wedding, from historic churches to national parks. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate your wedding while remembering Canada’s heritage, here are a few places you may want to look into.
Métis Crossing As a Wedding Site
The Métis Crossing Cultural Centre in Alberta loves to celebrate family and love. There’s no requirement to be Métis. You can hold your wedding and stay at the lodge, which overlooks the North Saskatchewan River. Guests can enjoy some of the cultural experiences to better understand the Métis. The Cultural Gathering Centre has rustic beams and natural light, so it needs minimal decorations.
Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort
The Quaaout Lodge is located in Chase, British Columbia. It sits beside Little Shuswap Lake, so you can have a lakeside wedding. Your guests will enjoy the hospitality of the Little Shuswap Lake Band, which owns the lodge. The resort is open all year long, with appropriate activities for all seasons. The environment is kept in pristine condition, and it’s considered a photographer’s delight. Your wedding pictures will be amazing.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park As a Wedding Site
This national park in Nova Scotia offers two different backdrops, the sea and the mountains. You’ll need a Nova Scotia marriage license, but the scenery will make up for any bureaucratic inconvenience. The park features several locations that are suitable for ceremonies. Trout Brook has a small picnic shelter and a wood stove. It’s the perfect setting for an intimate wedding. Have your wedding party hike up the Skyline Trail to a cliff that overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence. You may even have some wildlife join you as you say your vows.
Batoche National Historic Wedding Site
Located in Saskatchewan, Batoche is about an hour north of Saskatoon. The site is only open from May to October for visitors, but it’s a lovely location with heritage buildings that are the perfect place for a simple wedding in a romantic place surrounded by history and nature. Guests can enjoy the museum before the wedding to learn more about the Métis and the First Nations.
Fort Malden National Historic Site
Get a glimpse into what life was like in the 19th century at this historical site along the banks of the Detroit River in Ontario. Visitor services are offered May to October. The site welcomes weddings and has many facilities that can be used to host an unforgettable wedding. Your guests will have plenty of places to explore while visiting the area. Amherstburg is a great town with wineries, restaurants and entertainment to keep everyone from getting bored.
Manoir-Papineau National Historic Site
Louis-Joseph Papineau was a historical figure who failed in his rebellion but ultimately led Canada to a responsible government. This beautiful manor house is one of the sites that remembers his legacy. It features many rooms and outbuildings suitable for weddings. The gardens and lawns are lovely places for pictures. Papineau was one of the original Francophone patriots.
The Forks National Historic Site
This site is a National Historic Site of Canada because it has been witness to many events in Canada’s history. Its geographical location at the juncture of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers make it a beautiful location to host a wedding. The amphitheatre can hold up to 120 chairs, but there are other spaces in the nine-acre park.
These locations bring history and nature to your wedding, making it a special celebration for you and your guests. Make sure to check with the facility’s management about wedding guidelines. Unfortunately, Parks Canada, which runs many of these venues, does not allow confetti or rose petals to be thrown at the ceremony. You may have to give up some of your traditions to get heritage.
Typically, a marriage ceremony and reception are about one happy couple. This is true in most places, including Canada. Some people opt to have a single ceremony and celebration for two or more couples. When it’s two couples, this is what’s known as a double wedding. Close friends, siblings and other family members may do this to save money, pool resources or just for the quirkiness of it all. The TLC network once aired a program that featured one set of identical twins marrying another set of identical twins in a double wedding. The television program “Fuller House” featured a triple wedding in one of its season finales. Here are some things to consider for going this route.
Know Before You Go
Pulling off a double wedding is going to be difficult if you don’t have a close connection with the other people involved. Even if you have a sibling or bestie, you need to be sure that this is a smart idea going in. Unlike a typical ceremony, where you and your partner are calling the shots, now your special day must also consider the preferences and needs of another couple. If you’re someone who likes to plan and the other couples are less organized or prefer to play things by ear, there could be trouble well before you get to paradise.
Consider the Benefits couples
One of the biggest benefits of a double wedding is cost savings. You’ll only be paying for certain features once, such as a venue, catering and reception entertainment. If the couples are funding the wedding, then the overall costs are split, leading to further savings. If you and someone close are engaged and have the same friends and families, this allows your loved ones to save one date and plan to be at one event. A wedding of this type prioritizes the convenience of those you love, which is a good thing!
Get on the Same Page With The Other Couples
It’s idealistic to expect multiple couples to agree on everything when it comes to details, but you should have open discussion and reach a consensus on the following:
Compromising: Each person should be clear on dealbreakers, must-haves and low-priority items. Be willing to compromise on certain details so that the event is special for all involved.
Choosing a look: If one couple wants high fashion and another wants casual and laid back, there needs to be plenty of discussion about going with a hybrid aesthetic. You don’t want to end up with something that sounds good on paper but is ultimately unsuccessful.
Going first: When there’s one pair tying the knot, you don’t have to figure out who marches down the aisle or exchanges vows first. Realize that between the wedding and reception, you’ll need to figure out what makes sense when there are multiple folks involved.
Exchanging vows: It’s entirely up to the group to decide on the order, but it might be better to have one couple exchange vows at a time. Consider having each couple kiss at the same time to symbolize the various levels of unity represented in a double wedding.
Receiving gifts: Instead of a gift registry, perhaps you could ask guests to contribute monetarily to a pool to be split among the newlyweds for honeymoon or other marriage startup expenses.
Ditch the Wedding Party
Depending on the circumstances, it might be easier to forgo having a maid of honor or best man, especially if the people who would fulfill these roles are getting married too. Remember that bridesmaids and groomsmen are usually there to help the couple before and during the big day. Having loved ones attend to multiple couples may be a huge ask. Multiple parties may be unwieldy.
Marrying multiple couples in one ceremony doesn’t have to be complicated. It allows you and others to deepen your bond and pool resources when it comes to time, talent and treasure. A successful event requires careful planning, a willingness to compromise, honesty and regular communication.
Whether you had a huge, lavish affair or a smaller, more understated gathering, your wedding was a special day. You tied the knot with the love of your life surrounded by your closest friends and family. Your heart is overflowing with love and excitement about the journey ahead, but you’re also brimming with gratitude. Between wedding participants, guests, gift-givers, well-wishers and even professionals, other people helped to make the day one to cherish. Here’s what you should know about expressing your gratitude to others.
Develop a Plan
When you consider all the people to thank, it can be overwhelming to address everyone. You may be tempted to send an e-mail or a text message to friends, but a thoughtfully written note, thank you card or some other token of appreciation is usually best. Crack open an Excel spreadsheet to make a list of everyone you want to acknowledge. You can organize your lists according to the various parts that people played. A handwritten note to gift-givers might be one approach, while you also include a small gift to the people who were in the wedding party or offered services. Coming up with a plan is the best way to make sure that you don’t forget anyone.
Thank Thee Right Away
Many couples follow up a wedding immediately with a honeymoon that keeps them from working on writing thank you notes. As soon as you are back home, you should get started immediately. Start with your wedding party and anyone who played a role in the planning, marriage ceremony, reception and pre-wedding events, such as a stag-and-doe or engagement party. Proceed with those who sent gifts ahead of and on the big day. You may continue to receive presents in the following months. Make a habit of immediately preparing a thank you note upon receipt of future gifts.
Several To Thank, Don’t Go It Alone
It took two to tango, or in this case, get married. Divide up the work between you and your spouse. Consider splitting the work down the middle or divvying up the task based on your strengths. If you’re the one who has the words to say, take care of the notes and let your partner be responsible for stuffing, stamping and sealing envelopes. Gratitude is something that comes from both of you, so it should be a group thing when it’s time to give thanks.
Personalize Your Note
When writing notes, it’s important to tailor them to the recipients. Be specific about the role they played or the gift they gave when you’re handwriting (yes, handwriting) your note. For gift-givers, consider taking a picture of their present so that you can talk specifically about their contribution and how much the two of you appreciate them, their thoughtfulness and their generosity. If some sent money or gift cards, be sure to mention the amount. No gift is too small to acknowledge!
Develop Templates
Coming up with an individual note for everyone who supported you may not be the best use of your time, energy and creativity. It’s ok to use a template or outline based on the people you’re thanking:
Wedding party: Thank them for supporting the two of you on the big day and acknowledge the time, energy and resources that they invested.
Ceremony participants: Tell them how special it was that they lent their talents in making the ceremony special.
Guests: Mention how much their presence and love honored you and your spouse.
Gift-givers: Acknowledge the gift they gave. Be sure to mention details about the present, including its benefit to your lives moving forward. In the case of gifts from couples and families, make it a point to mention everyone involved.
Expressing gratitude to all the people who helped make your nuptials can be a daunting task. It’s important to be organized, intentional and thorough when you’re showing appreciation. Tailored, handwritten notes or cards are always preferable to digital communications such as emails or texts.
Reinventing your wedding a bit with the following ideas can help you breathe new life into the occasion and have some fun in the process.
When the time comes to plan your wedding, you most likely will have a handful of ideas you want to see brought to life. Even couples who never spent much time dreaming of their nuptials will have a few thoughts on what the event should look like. Of course, you may also want to expand your horizons and explore some fun ideas that you may not have come up with yourself. Reinventing your event a bit can help you breathe new life into the event and have some fun in the process.
From pretty paintings to clever coasters, there are a number of fun, simple, and effective ways to reinvigorate your big day. Look over these ideas and discover a tactic that works for your needs!
Painting a Picture
Photography is a service that seems to go hand in hand with weddings. In fact, the photo industry is predominantly made up of people who got started taking pictures at weddings. Still, no one ever said you couldn’t explore additional services to help capture the essence of one of the most important days in your life. A wedding painter is a person who can give you a fun new take on an old idea and leave you with a finished product that you can cherish well into your years of married life.
The idea is quite simple: A professional painter will come to your reception and set up an easel. Over the course of the night, he or she will take a look at the event and slowly start painting the scene. The painter will incorporate as many details as possible and as many important people as he or she can. This will leave you with a gorgeous piece of art that captures the true essence of your wedding. You’ll still want to use a photographer, but a painter will provide an additional piece you’ll love.
Disappearing Drinks
The energy of a wedding can’t be easily compared to other events. Once the ceremony is over, the guests tend to move around often and freely. While it can be wonderful to see the people you love mix and mingle in the crowd, it can also create a handful of unique and strange problems. For one, guests who are always moving from table to dance floor to bathroom to table again are likely to misplace their drinks. What’s more, the serving staff might clear their beverages away when left unattended.
To try and minimize how much alcohol is being literally poured down the drain, you might want to think about adding some fun coasters into the mix. Some companies make coasters specifically for weddings to help stop drinks from being left behind. The coasters will contain a message to the staff, saying the drink is still being consumed and there’s no need to toss it yet. All your guests have to do is place the coaster on top of their glasses when walking away. This is an inexpensive solution that works with ease.
Guest Book Fun
Finally, instead of the traditional guest book, try something a bit more fun and creative. One idea circulating around the internet involves a Mad Libs–style guest book. Instead of writing their own messages, guests can turn to a page and fill out a Mad Libs that has to do with the couple. Guests will have fun writing silly answers, and the happy couple will have some great entertainment to sink into after the event has ended. Get everyone to sign their contributions, and you’ll have a unique guest book that will please everyone.
Reinventing your wedding doesn’t have to be an involved or complicated process. Find an idea that works for your needs, and experience a newfound sense of excitement about your big day.
The annual March release of the new Canada Post floral stamp series is a welcome sign of spring and highly anticipated by some brides. Those in search of pretty feminine postage to adorn their wedding invitations are particularly eager to see the designs. This year two Canadian pansy designs have been released.
About the Stamps
There are different varieties of pansies featured on the stamps. The ‘Delta Premium Pure Light Blue’ (Link) has a brilliant yellow center surrounded by azure petals. The ‘Midnight Glow’ Icicle Pansy shines in hues of purple, yellow, pink and orange. Typically, the floral stamps are photographs, but this year they are illustrations. Their romantic whimsical look may make them even more appealing to brides. Laurie Koss illustrated the stamps, and Marcio Morgado and Paul Haslip of HM&E Design Communications designed them.
The Symbolism of the Pansy
Pansies are a uniquely Canadian flower. The name is derived from the French word “pensee,” which means thought or remembrance. The flowers were first bred in 1839 by Lord James Gambier, a Newfoundland governor, and gardener William Thompson. The two men produced the pansy by crossing different species of the viola flower. Pansies are particularly hardy and well-suited to Canada’s climate; they flourish in cooler weather. They are some of the first flowers to bloom in spring and last in fall.
Other Wedding Postage Options
There are a wide variety of stamps from which to choose for wedding invitations. If you want to go with a flower but pansies aren’t your thing, other options include roses and magnolias. Floral postage is certainly not mandatory for wedding invitations; other alternatives may more accurately reflect your personality. For couples that prefer a patriotic theme, there are stamps available honoring the 50th anniversary of the national flag of Canada. Nature lovers can choose from baby wildlife and butterflies. Fans of the paranormal will love the five options from the haunted Canada postage collection.
Another popular postage choice for wedding invitations is to design your own stamp. This can be done through www.picturepost.ca. Couples often use a picture of themselves or some other photo of significance.
Tips for Mailing Your Wedding Invitations
While pretty stamps add a nice touch to invitations, the primary concern is that they arrive at the intended destination on time. You don’t want all the money you’ve invested in production and postage to go to waste. Here are some tips that can help ensure successful delivery:
Use the Right Amount of Postage
Wedding invitations can be unique in size and larger than standard letters. Bringing a copy of an invitation with all the inserts to a post office and getting it weighed will help you confirm the needed postage. If you are mailing any invitations to foreign countries, be sure to tell the postal clerks so they can calculate the correct postage for those invitations as well. This also applies to any prestamped reply cards you are sending.
Send Properly Sized Reply Cards
Some reply cards are actually too small to be mailed. Be sure to ask someone at the post office if yours are the right size.
Order Stamps Online
Ordering stamps online can be very convenient. Taking advantage of this option means not standing in line at the post office. You may also have a broader selection from which to choose when you shop online. Post offices sometimes run out of the most popular stamps, so ordering them over the Internet can be the best way to get what you want without waiting. Plan ahead and buy them in advance so you are not delayed in sending out invitations.
Postage is a necessary part of wedding invitations. For brides who want to adorn theirs with a pretty flower, the new Canada Post pansy stamps are a delightful choice.
A traditional church wedding is no longer a marriage requirement. Many couples are choosing less conventional places to tie the knot. Exchanging vows at a sporting venue is one of countless options. On March 19, a Toronto couple, who are big Maple Leafs fans, was married on the ice at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Hockey Wedding
In early March, Jennifer Rogers and Scott Protomanni won a contest that allowed them to get married at center ice, with a reception at a suite in the arena included. Rogers and Protomanni watched every league game while they were dating and were selected over hundreds of other couples who entered the contest. Family and friends cheered them on from the stands as they exchanged vows.
A blue carpet had been placed on the ice so no one slipped around during the ceremony, and they had their first dance there as well. The couple wore jerseys that said “bride” and “groom” on the back. Rogers carried a blue and white bouquet and there were hockey stick decorations. Carlton the Bear, the Leafs’ mascot, was the ring bearer. The couple also received a pair of tickets to the San Jose Sharks game scheduled for later in the evening. Their rings were provided courtesy of jeweler and sponsor Michael Hill.
“I Do Day” in Rio
In another arena wedding, 2,000 couples exchanged vows at the Maracanazinho Arena in Rio de Janeiro in December. The annual event has been nicknamed “Dia do Sim” or “I Do Day.” It was promoted by the city and created to help low-income couples—who were unable to pay for a wedding—get married. Couples with a monthly income of up to $1,000 were permitted to participate. Local authorities also booked special trains for the couples and their guests to transport them to the arena. Volunteer civil judges oversaw the ceremony, and a Roman Catholic bishop and evangelical minister blessed the couples. Some couples had waited years to get married and a number of them brought their kids along. The Maracanazinho Arena will be the site of the volleyball competition during the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Tips for Proposing at a Sports Stadium
While some people choose to marry at sports arenas, others opt to pop the question there. Here are a few tips if you are considering proposing at one.
Know the Answer Will Be Yes
In general, it is nice to be relatively confident that you will receive the answer you want to hear when you pop the question. If you are going to do so before thousands of people, it is even more important. The moment will be pretty embarrassing if the answer is no.
Be Sure Your Significant Other Will Like It
Not everyone wants to get engaged at a sports area. According to The Knot, a leading wedding planning website, only 10 percent of women like the idea of being proposed to at a stadium. If your significant other is a big sports fan, it may be a wonderful idea. Another issue is that not everyone wants to get engaged in such a public way, which may also include sports fans. You don’t want to spoil this momentous occasion by making your significant other uncomfortable in front of an arena’s worth of people.
The Details
If you are considering a stadium proposal, it is a good idea to do your research. Typically, there is a fee for doing this and it can cost up to several hundred dollars. You will probably have to be brief; even stadiums with large jumbotrons often limit the size of messages to 10 or 12 words.
A sports stadium wedding was ideal for Jennifer Rogers and Scott Protomanni and may be worth investigating if you and your partner like the idea. Proposing at an area can be a different affair altogether.
2015 is a great year to get married, no matter the season. For Canadian couples planning their nuptials, there are many fun and stylish wedding trends to consider incorporating into their weddings. Some are tried and true classics and others are more recent additions.
Non-Traditional Reception Venues
Having your reception in a formal ballroom is no longer a must. More and more couples are seeking out less conventional spaces such as galleries, museums, lofts, restaurants and outdoor areas. Avoiding a hotel ballroom can also make way for a greater variety of catering options. Many hotels insist you use their in-house services if you use their venue.
Innovative Menus
Food options for Canadian weddings have substantially evolved over time. Instead of a sit-down dinner or buffet, many couples are opting for more innovative alternatives. Some hire food trucks to cater their reception or hold events at independent restaurants. Serving sustainable, locally sourced cuisine is also becoming more important for a number of couples. Another popular trend is to provide comfort food like mac-n-cheese and BBQ rather than serving a more formal meal. The progression to more casual dining has also impacted desserts; cupcakes, macaroons and other bite size sweets are favorites. However, don’t assume food trucks, comfort food and smaller desserts means the tab will be lower.
Pastel Garden Flowers
Feminine pastel colored wedding flowers such as peonies, hydrangeas, freesias and lilacs are very en vogue. They can often be found all mixed together in bouquets and centerpieces which can create a fluffy light look with lots of texture and depth.
Pretty Stationary
A wedding is one of the few occasions where people still mail invitations. The postal service and stationary companies are undoubtedly happy this trend has endured the test of time.
No Formal Ceremony
A popular alternative to a formal ceremony at a church or synagogue is to use a justice of the peace or clerk of the court, and have only a handful of witnesses. There are also websites where people can easily get ordained online so another option is to have a friend or family member officiate the service. After the vows are done, couples may throw a big party at a later date.
Smaller Wedding Parties
The downsizing of wedding parties is a trend that has picked up steam. Many brides are now opting for one to four attendants and any more is increasingly uncommon. Couples are marrying later in life and attendants are typically older as well.
Different Bridesmaids Dresses
There are many more alternatives for bridesmaids’ dresses these days. Instead of picking one dress for everyone to wear, some brides pick a color and let their attendants choose the style of the dress. This often results in dresses that are more figure-flattering. Another option is to pick a dress style and let your bridesmaids’ choose the color they want to wear.
2014 Canadian Wedding Trends
The Annual Reader Survey from Weddingbells.ca (link) provides interesting information on Canadian wedding trends. Here are some of the statistics:
There were approximately 162,056 weddings in 2014 in the Great White North.
The average cost of a wedding was $31,685. July and August nuptials are a little pricier.
In Canada, the average age of a bride is 31 years old.
The top month in which to get engaged is December; 18 percent of Canadian grooms propose then.
August is the most preferred time to marry with 25 percent of couples choosing that month to tie the knot.
There are an average of 128 guests per Canadian wedding.
Since 2010 the Bahamas has been the top honeymoon destination for Canadian couples.
These are a few trends that can provide inspiration when planning your big day. A wedding is a once in a lifetime event and should reflect the unique style of the happy couple.
One of the first things couples must decide after getting engaged is the date of the big day. The initial instinct may be to opt for a spring or summer wedding, but winter weddings in Canada are fast becoming a popular option. There are many lovely venues around the county that are perfect for nuptials at this time of year.
Snow Can Create a Fairy-Tale Setting
If it snows on your wedding day, you will have a ready-made, magical backdrop and the opportunity for uniquely beautiful wedding pictures. Imagine photos of family and friends with gently falling snow in the background. Guests can also pose alongside outdoor ice sculptures, snowmen and Santa’s sleigh. In addition to snow, you may also benefit from festive holiday decorations already in place at your venue.
Availability
The majority of people still get married when the weather is warm, so chances are you will have more options when it comes to venues. Prices are also usually lower, unless you opt for a wedding at a ski resort in high season. There may be less competition when it comes to the availability of friends and family. With the exception of the holiday season, guests may have fewer social commitments during the winter.
Being Different Is Cool
There are probably a lot of people who have never attended a winter wedding, and the allure of a new experience can be enticing. When it is cold, there is a whole array of different ways to entertain guests, such as skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing and snowball fights. There are also a limitless number of choices for less conventional wedding attire. Think faux fur wraps, Victorian boots and funky hats.
Idyllic Spots for a Canadian Winter Wedding
Storm Mountain Lodge and Cabins, Banff
Nestled in the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, Storm Mountain Lodge and Cabins is the perfect choice for a small wedding in a secluded scenic location.
Castle Moffet, Nova Scotia
Located on breathtaking Cape Breton Island, there are views of the surrounding mountains and Bras d’Or Lake. The castle provides a lovely, romantic setting that is the perfect place for couples to begin their life together.
Vineland Estates, Niagara on the Lake
Long considered the most popular place to honeymoon, many couples are also realizing the Niagara Falls area is a spectacular place for a wedding as well. Niagara on the Lake is situated several minutes from the falls and has many vineyards and orchards. The Vineland Estates vineyard sits on acres of picturesque countryside, and features a gourmet restaurant and a lovely stone carriage house that is a wonderful place for a wedding. There are also many charming inns in the surrounding area.
Ice Hotel, Quebec
If you really want to embrace the cold, holding your nuptials at the Ice Hotel in Quebec may be a perfect choice. Composed entirely of ice and snow, this venue is open from January to April. Quebec City is also one of the most romantic places anywhere and offers an abundance of old world charm and fantastic cuisine.
Other Winter Wedding Tips
Be Aware of the Altitude
If you are hosting a wedding in the mountains, and you or guests live at lower altitudes, be aware of the possibility of altitude sickness. Drinking lots of water and not overindulging in alcohol the first night in town are two suggestions. There is also medication available that can help you avoid getting sick.
Protect Yourself From the Sun
The sun can be particularly intense during the winter, especially if you are in the mountains. The higher altitude makes the sun’s rays more powerful, and they are reflected in every direction off of the snow. Wearing sunglasses and using sunscreen and lip balm provides additional protection.
Your wedding is a very special event. Be bold and consider following the path less traveled by having it in winter.
Engaged Canadians can find ideas or inspiration for their upcoming nuptials nearly anywhere, especially in the Old English folk rhyme “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe.” This verse originated out of the old superstition that a new bride needed to defend her marriage against bad fortune with blessings of fertility and prosperity. When it comes to your special day, there are many details that require your attention and creativity. Let’s talk about some creative ways to implement “something borrowed” in your wedding day plans.
Thank You for the Music
Music is an important aspect of your big day. From a selection performed at your ceremony to the playlist at your reception, you can merge the joy of music with the concept of borrowing. Did your or your partner’s parents have a special song that they played for the first dance at their wedding? Pay honor and start a new tradition by “borrowing” this same song for your first dance. Let’s suppose your parents danced to Lionel Richie and Diana Ross’s classic duet “Endless Love.” You could repurpose this song for a joint dance with your parents.
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
Have you ever been responsible for a holiday menu or turned to a loved one for a time-honored, treasured recipe for a favorite dish? Why not do the same for your wedding? Maybe a relative or a friend makes a mean fruit pie or poutine gravy that’s to die for. You can “borrow” these recipes and incorporate them into your wedding-day eats. If you’re working with a caterer, perhaps you don’t have to use the exact recipe but you achieve the same symbolic gesture by including a dish of significance on the menu. You’re not limited to food, by the way. Think of a favorite cocktail from a restaurant or bar you love, like the Canadian classic, the Caesar cocktail. Borrow it for your celebration.
Ideas With Words
If you and your future spouse are writing your own words, you can incorporate words from the vows of dear family and friends for your own. If this sounds like a good plan, be sure to do it with the blessing of the persons whose special moment is inspiring yours. While your wedding vows should come from the heart, sometimes you find a poet, author, or songwriter has perfectly captured your feelings in a work. Why reinvent the wheel when you’ve got a luxury “Cadillac” that gets you where you want to go?
(Baby, You Can) Drive My Car
Driving off from your wedding reception in a car is often the perfect coda for your celebration. Ordinarily, you could drive your own vehicle or hire a driver with a luxury ride for this sendoff. Have you considered borrowing an automobile from someone in your village? Perhaps you know someone who has a vintage auto or something fancy and is willing to contribute to your nuptials in this way.
Diamonds and Pearls As an Ideas
It’s fairly common to incorporate jewelry and family heirlooms as borrowed items for your big day, especially rings, veils, and dresses. Consider these other ways of implementing these meaningful objects:
Jewelry: Instead of wearing a ring or brooch, make it a part of a bouquet for a bride or other members of the wedding party.
Décor: Use items of significance to loved ones in your table settings or other decorations.
Invitations: Use photos or pictures of others’ belongings in your invitations, printed or digital.
Take extra-special care when using others’ possessions that are extremely valuable or otherwise difficult to repair or replace.
Borrowing ideas, items, and concepts from your nearest and dearest helps make your nuptials more special. This is one of the reasons this tradition inspired by old folklore has endured across generations and cultures. Temporary gifts contrast with the long-term love offered by a spouse, family, and friends.
Canada has many beautiful locations for a wedding, from historic churches to national parks. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate your wedding while remembering Canada’s heritage, here are a few places you may want to look into.
Métis Crossing As a Wedding Site
The Métis Crossing Cultural Centre in Alberta loves to celebrate family and love. There’s no requirement to be Métis. You can hold your wedding and stay at the lodge, which overlooks the North Saskatchewan River. Guests can enjoy some of the cultural experiences to better understand the Métis. The Cultural Gathering Centre has rustic beams and natural light, so it needs minimal decorations.
Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort
The Quaaout Lodge is located in Chase, British Columbia. It sits beside Little Shuswap Lake, so you can have a lakeside wedding. Your guests will enjoy the hospitality of the Little Shuswap Lake Band, which owns the lodge. The resort is open all year long, with appropriate activities for all seasons. The environment is kept in pristine condition, and it’s considered a photographer’s delight. Your wedding pictures will be amazing.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park As a Wedding Site
This national park in Nova Scotia offers two different backdrops, the sea and the mountains. You’ll need a Nova Scotia marriage license, but the scenery will make up for any bureaucratic inconvenience. The park features several locations that are suitable for ceremonies. Trout Brook has a small picnic shelter and a wood stove. It’s the perfect setting for an intimate wedding. Have your wedding party hike up the Skyline Trail to a cliff that overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence. You may even have some wildlife join you as you say your vows.
Batoche National Historic Wedding Site
Located in Saskatchewan, Batoche is about an hour north of Saskatoon. The site is only open from May to October for visitors, but it’s a lovely location with heritage buildings that are the perfect place for a simple wedding in a romantic place surrounded by history and nature. Guests can enjoy the museum before the wedding to learn more about the Métis and the First Nations.
Fort Malden National Historic Site
Get a glimpse into what life was like in the 19th century at this historical site along the banks of the Detroit River in Ontario. Visitor services are offered May to October. The site welcomes weddings and has many facilities that can be used to host an unforgettable wedding. Your guests will have plenty of places to explore while visiting the area. Amherstburg is a great town with wineries, restaurants and entertainment to keep everyone from getting bored.
Manoir-Papineau National Historic Site
Louis-Joseph Papineau was a historical figure who failed in his rebellion but ultimately led Canada to a responsible government. This beautiful manor house is one of the sites that remembers his legacy. It features many rooms and outbuildings suitable for weddings. The gardens and lawns are lovely places for pictures. Papineau was one of the original Francophone patriots.
The Forks National Historic Site
This site is a National Historic Site of Canada because it has been witness to many events in Canada’s history. Its geographical location at the juncture of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers make it a beautiful location to host a wedding. The amphitheatre can hold up to 120 chairs, but there are other spaces in the nine-acre park.
These locations bring history and nature to your wedding, making it a special celebration for you and your guests. Make sure to check with the facility’s management about wedding guidelines. Unfortunately, Parks Canada, which runs many of these venues, does not allow confetti or rose petals to be thrown at the ceremony. You may have to give up some of your traditions to get heritage.
Typically, a marriage ceremony and reception are about one happy couple. This is true in most places, including Canada. Some people opt to have a single ceremony and celebration for two or more couples. When it’s two couples, this is what’s known as a double wedding. Close friends, siblings and other family members may do this to save money, pool resources or just for the quirkiness of it all. The TLC network once aired a program that featured one set of identical twins marrying another set of identical twins in a double wedding. The television program “Fuller House” featured a triple wedding in one of its season finales. Here are some things to consider for going this route.
Know Before You Go
Pulling off a double wedding is going to be difficult if you don’t have a close connection with the other people involved. Even if you have a sibling or bestie, you need to be sure that this is a smart idea going in. Unlike a typical ceremony, where you and your partner are calling the shots, now your special day must also consider the preferences and needs of another couple. If you’re someone who likes to plan and the other couples are less organized or prefer to play things by ear, there could be trouble well before you get to paradise.
Consider the Benefits couples
One of the biggest benefits of a double wedding is cost savings. You’ll only be paying for certain features once, such as a venue, catering and reception entertainment. If the couples are funding the wedding, then the overall costs are split, leading to further savings. If you and someone close are engaged and have the same friends and families, this allows your loved ones to save one date and plan to be at one event. A wedding of this type prioritizes the convenience of those you love, which is a good thing!
Get on the Same Page With The Other Couples
It’s idealistic to expect multiple couples to agree on everything when it comes to details, but you should have open discussion and reach a consensus on the following:
Compromising: Each person should be clear on dealbreakers, must-haves and low-priority items. Be willing to compromise on certain details so that the event is special for all involved.
Choosing a look: If one couple wants high fashion and another wants casual and laid back, there needs to be plenty of discussion about going with a hybrid aesthetic. You don’t want to end up with something that sounds good on paper but is ultimately unsuccessful.
Going first: When there’s one pair tying the knot, you don’t have to figure out who marches down the aisle or exchanges vows first. Realize that between the wedding and reception, you’ll need to figure out what makes sense when there are multiple folks involved.
Exchanging vows: It’s entirely up to the group to decide on the order, but it might be better to have one couple exchange vows at a time. Consider having each couple kiss at the same time to symbolize the various levels of unity represented in a double wedding.
Receiving gifts: Instead of a gift registry, perhaps you could ask guests to contribute monetarily to a pool to be split among the newlyweds for honeymoon or other marriage startup expenses.
Ditch the Wedding Party
Depending on the circumstances, it might be easier to forgo having a maid of honor or best man, especially if the people who would fulfill these roles are getting married too. Remember that bridesmaids and groomsmen are usually there to help the couple before and during the big day. Having loved ones attend to multiple couples may be a huge ask. Multiple parties may be unwieldy.
Marrying multiple couples in one ceremony doesn’t have to be complicated. It allows you and others to deepen your bond and pool resources when it comes to time, talent and treasure. A successful event requires careful planning, a willingness to compromise, honesty and regular communication.
Whether you had a huge, lavish affair or a smaller, more understated gathering, your wedding was a special day. You tied the knot with the love of your life surrounded by your closest friends and family. Your heart is overflowing with love and excitement about the journey ahead, but you’re also brimming with gratitude. Between wedding participants, guests, gift-givers, well-wishers and even professionals, other people helped to make the day one to cherish. Here’s what you should know about expressing your gratitude to others.
Develop a Plan
When you consider all the people to thank, it can be overwhelming to address everyone. You may be tempted to send an e-mail or a text message to friends, but a thoughtfully written note, thank you card or some other token of appreciation is usually best. Crack open an Excel spreadsheet to make a list of everyone you want to acknowledge. You can organize your lists according to the various parts that people played. A handwritten note to gift-givers might be one approach, while you also include a small gift to the people who were in the wedding party or offered services. Coming up with a plan is the best way to make sure that you don’t forget anyone.
Thank Thee Right Away
Many couples follow up a wedding immediately with a honeymoon that keeps them from working on writing thank you notes. As soon as you are back home, you should get started immediately. Start with your wedding party and anyone who played a role in the planning, marriage ceremony, reception and pre-wedding events, such as a stag-and-doe or engagement party. Proceed with those who sent gifts ahead of and on the big day. You may continue to receive presents in the following months. Make a habit of immediately preparing a thank you note upon receipt of future gifts.
Several To Thank, Don’t Go It Alone
It took two to tango, or in this case, get married. Divide up the work between you and your spouse. Consider splitting the work down the middle or divvying up the task based on your strengths. If you’re the one who has the words to say, take care of the notes and let your partner be responsible for stuffing, stamping and sealing envelopes. Gratitude is something that comes from both of you, so it should be a group thing when it’s time to give thanks.
Personalize Your Note
When writing notes, it’s important to tailor them to the recipients. Be specific about the role they played or the gift they gave when you’re handwriting (yes, handwriting) your note. For gift-givers, consider taking a picture of their present so that you can talk specifically about their contribution and how much the two of you appreciate them, their thoughtfulness and their generosity. If some sent money or gift cards, be sure to mention the amount. No gift is too small to acknowledge!
Develop Templates
Coming up with an individual note for everyone who supported you may not be the best use of your time, energy and creativity. It’s ok to use a template or outline based on the people you’re thanking:
Wedding party: Thank them for supporting the two of you on the big day and acknowledge the time, energy and resources that they invested.
Ceremony participants: Tell them how special it was that they lent their talents in making the ceremony special.
Guests: Mention how much their presence and love honored you and your spouse.
Gift-givers: Acknowledge the gift they gave. Be sure to mention details about the present, including its benefit to your lives moving forward. In the case of gifts from couples and families, make it a point to mention everyone involved.
Expressing gratitude to all the people who helped make your nuptials can be a daunting task. It’s important to be organized, intentional and thorough when you’re showing appreciation. Tailored, handwritten notes or cards are always preferable to digital communications such as emails or texts.
Reinventing your wedding a bit with the following ideas can help you breathe new life into the occasion and have some fun in the process.
When the time comes to plan your wedding, you most likely will have a handful of ideas you want to see brought to life. Even couples who never spent much time dreaming of their nuptials will have a few thoughts on what the event should look like. Of course, you may also want to expand your horizons and explore some fun ideas that you may not have come up with yourself. Reinventing your event a bit can help you breathe new life into the event and have some fun in the process.
From pretty paintings to clever coasters, there are a number of fun, simple, and effective ways to reinvigorate your big day. Look over these ideas and discover a tactic that works for your needs!
Painting a Picture
Photography is a service that seems to go hand in hand with weddings. In fact, the photo industry is predominantly made up of people who got started taking pictures at weddings. Still, no one ever said you couldn’t explore additional services to help capture the essence of one of the most important days in your life. A wedding painter is a person who can give you a fun new take on an old idea and leave you with a finished product that you can cherish well into your years of married life.
The idea is quite simple: A professional painter will come to your reception and set up an easel. Over the course of the night, he or she will take a look at the event and slowly start painting the scene. The painter will incorporate as many details as possible and as many important people as he or she can. This will leave you with a gorgeous piece of art that captures the true essence of your wedding. You’ll still want to use a photographer, but a painter will provide an additional piece you’ll love.
Disappearing Drinks
The energy of a wedding can’t be easily compared to other events. Once the ceremony is over, the guests tend to move around often and freely. While it can be wonderful to see the people you love mix and mingle in the crowd, it can also create a handful of unique and strange problems. For one, guests who are always moving from table to dance floor to bathroom to table again are likely to misplace their drinks. What’s more, the serving staff might clear their beverages away when left unattended.
To try and minimize how much alcohol is being literally poured down the drain, you might want to think about adding some fun coasters into the mix. Some companies make coasters specifically for weddings to help stop drinks from being left behind. The coasters will contain a message to the staff, saying the drink is still being consumed and there’s no need to toss it yet. All your guests have to do is place the coaster on top of their glasses when walking away. This is an inexpensive solution that works with ease.
Guest Book Fun
Finally, instead of the traditional guest book, try something a bit more fun and creative. One idea circulating around the internet involves a Mad Libs–style guest book. Instead of writing their own messages, guests can turn to a page and fill out a Mad Libs that has to do with the couple. Guests will have fun writing silly answers, and the happy couple will have some great entertainment to sink into after the event has ended. Get everyone to sign their contributions, and you’ll have a unique guest book that will please everyone.
Reinventing your wedding doesn’t have to be an involved or complicated process. Find an idea that works for your needs, and experience a newfound sense of excitement about your big day.
The annual March release of the new Canada Post floral stamp series is a welcome sign of spring and highly anticipated by some brides. Those in search of pretty feminine postage to adorn their wedding invitations are particularly eager to see the designs. This year two Canadian pansy designs have been released.
About the Stamps
There are different varieties of pansies featured on the stamps. The ‘Delta Premium Pure Light Blue’ (Link) has a brilliant yellow center surrounded by azure petals. The ‘Midnight Glow’ Icicle Pansy shines in hues of purple, yellow, pink and orange. Typically, the floral stamps are photographs, but this year they are illustrations. Their romantic whimsical look may make them even more appealing to brides. Laurie Koss illustrated the stamps, and Marcio Morgado and Paul Haslip of HM&E Design Communications designed them.
The Symbolism of the Pansy
Pansies are a uniquely Canadian flower. The name is derived from the French word “pensee,” which means thought or remembrance. The flowers were first bred in 1839 by Lord James Gambier, a Newfoundland governor, and gardener William Thompson. The two men produced the pansy by crossing different species of the viola flower. Pansies are particularly hardy and well-suited to Canada’s climate; they flourish in cooler weather. They are some of the first flowers to bloom in spring and last in fall.
Other Wedding Postage Options
There are a wide variety of stamps from which to choose for wedding invitations. If you want to go with a flower but pansies aren’t your thing, other options include roses and magnolias. Floral postage is certainly not mandatory for wedding invitations; other alternatives may more accurately reflect your personality. For couples that prefer a patriotic theme, there are stamps available honoring the 50th anniversary of the national flag of Canada. Nature lovers can choose from baby wildlife and butterflies. Fans of the paranormal will love the five options from the haunted Canada postage collection.
Another popular postage choice for wedding invitations is to design your own stamp. This can be done through www.picturepost.ca. Couples often use a picture of themselves or some other photo of significance.
Tips for Mailing Your Wedding Invitations
While pretty stamps add a nice touch to invitations, the primary concern is that they arrive at the intended destination on time. You don’t want all the money you’ve invested in production and postage to go to waste. Here are some tips that can help ensure successful delivery:
Use the Right Amount of Postage
Wedding invitations can be unique in size and larger than standard letters. Bringing a copy of an invitation with all the inserts to a post office and getting it weighed will help you confirm the needed postage. If you are mailing any invitations to foreign countries, be sure to tell the postal clerks so they can calculate the correct postage for those invitations as well. This also applies to any prestamped reply cards you are sending.
Send Properly Sized Reply Cards
Some reply cards are actually too small to be mailed. Be sure to ask someone at the post office if yours are the right size.
Order Stamps Online
Ordering stamps online can be very convenient. Taking advantage of this option means not standing in line at the post office. You may also have a broader selection from which to choose when you shop online. Post offices sometimes run out of the most popular stamps, so ordering them over the Internet can be the best way to get what you want without waiting. Plan ahead and buy them in advance so you are not delayed in sending out invitations.
Postage is a necessary part of wedding invitations. For brides who want to adorn theirs with a pretty flower, the new Canada Post pansy stamps are a delightful choice.
A traditional church wedding is no longer a marriage requirement. Many couples are choosing less conventional places to tie the knot. Exchanging vows at a sporting venue is one of countless options. On March 19, a Toronto couple, who are big Maple Leafs fans, was married on the ice at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Hockey Wedding
In early March, Jennifer Rogers and Scott Protomanni won a contest that allowed them to get married at center ice, with a reception at a suite in the arena included. Rogers and Protomanni watched every league game while they were dating and were selected over hundreds of other couples who entered the contest. Family and friends cheered them on from the stands as they exchanged vows.
A blue carpet had been placed on the ice so no one slipped around during the ceremony, and they had their first dance there as well. The couple wore jerseys that said “bride” and “groom” on the back. Rogers carried a blue and white bouquet and there were hockey stick decorations. Carlton the Bear, the Leafs’ mascot, was the ring bearer. The couple also received a pair of tickets to the San Jose Sharks game scheduled for later in the evening. Their rings were provided courtesy of jeweler and sponsor Michael Hill.
“I Do Day” in Rio
In another arena wedding, 2,000 couples exchanged vows at the Maracanazinho Arena in Rio de Janeiro in December. The annual event has been nicknamed “Dia do Sim” or “I Do Day.” It was promoted by the city and created to help low-income couples—who were unable to pay for a wedding—get married. Couples with a monthly income of up to $1,000 were permitted to participate. Local authorities also booked special trains for the couples and their guests to transport them to the arena. Volunteer civil judges oversaw the ceremony, and a Roman Catholic bishop and evangelical minister blessed the couples. Some couples had waited years to get married and a number of them brought their kids along. The Maracanazinho Arena will be the site of the volleyball competition during the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Tips for Proposing at a Sports Stadium
While some people choose to marry at sports arenas, others opt to pop the question there. Here are a few tips if you are considering proposing at one.
Know the Answer Will Be Yes
In general, it is nice to be relatively confident that you will receive the answer you want to hear when you pop the question. If you are going to do so before thousands of people, it is even more important. The moment will be pretty embarrassing if the answer is no.
Be Sure Your Significant Other Will Like It
Not everyone wants to get engaged at a sports area. According to The Knot, a leading wedding planning website, only 10 percent of women like the idea of being proposed to at a stadium. If your significant other is a big sports fan, it may be a wonderful idea. Another issue is that not everyone wants to get engaged in such a public way, which may also include sports fans. You don’t want to spoil this momentous occasion by making your significant other uncomfortable in front of an arena’s worth of people.
The Details
If you are considering a stadium proposal, it is a good idea to do your research. Typically, there is a fee for doing this and it can cost up to several hundred dollars. You will probably have to be brief; even stadiums with large jumbotrons often limit the size of messages to 10 or 12 words.
A sports stadium wedding was ideal for Jennifer Rogers and Scott Protomanni and may be worth investigating if you and your partner like the idea. Proposing at an area can be a different affair altogether.
2015 is a great year to get married, no matter the season. For Canadian couples planning their nuptials, there are many fun and stylish wedding trends to consider incorporating into their weddings. Some are tried and true classics and others are more recent additions.
Non-Traditional Reception Venues
Having your reception in a formal ballroom is no longer a must. More and more couples are seeking out less conventional spaces such as galleries, museums, lofts, restaurants and outdoor areas. Avoiding a hotel ballroom can also make way for a greater variety of catering options. Many hotels insist you use their in-house services if you use their venue.
Innovative Menus
Food options for Canadian weddings have substantially evolved over time. Instead of a sit-down dinner or buffet, many couples are opting for more innovative alternatives. Some hire food trucks to cater their reception or hold events at independent restaurants. Serving sustainable, locally sourced cuisine is also becoming more important for a number of couples. Another popular trend is to provide comfort food like mac-n-cheese and BBQ rather than serving a more formal meal. The progression to more casual dining has also impacted desserts; cupcakes, macaroons and other bite size sweets are favorites. However, don’t assume food trucks, comfort food and smaller desserts means the tab will be lower.
Pastel Garden Flowers
Feminine pastel colored wedding flowers such as peonies, hydrangeas, freesias and lilacs are very en vogue. They can often be found all mixed together in bouquets and centerpieces which can create a fluffy light look with lots of texture and depth.
Pretty Stationary
A wedding is one of the few occasions where people still mail invitations. The postal service and stationary companies are undoubtedly happy this trend has endured the test of time.
No Formal Ceremony
A popular alternative to a formal ceremony at a church or synagogue is to use a justice of the peace or clerk of the court, and have only a handful of witnesses. There are also websites where people can easily get ordained online so another option is to have a friend or family member officiate the service. After the vows are done, couples may throw a big party at a later date.
Smaller Wedding Parties
The downsizing of wedding parties is a trend that has picked up steam. Many brides are now opting for one to four attendants and any more is increasingly uncommon. Couples are marrying later in life and attendants are typically older as well.
Different Bridesmaids Dresses
There are many more alternatives for bridesmaids’ dresses these days. Instead of picking one dress for everyone to wear, some brides pick a color and let their attendants choose the style of the dress. This often results in dresses that are more figure-flattering. Another option is to pick a dress style and let your bridesmaids’ choose the color they want to wear.
2014 Canadian Wedding Trends
The Annual Reader Survey from Weddingbells.ca (link) provides interesting information on Canadian wedding trends. Here are some of the statistics:
There were approximately 162,056 weddings in 2014 in the Great White North.
The average cost of a wedding was $31,685. July and August nuptials are a little pricier.
In Canada, the average age of a bride is 31 years old.
The top month in which to get engaged is December; 18 percent of Canadian grooms propose then.
August is the most preferred time to marry with 25 percent of couples choosing that month to tie the knot.
There are an average of 128 guests per Canadian wedding.
Since 2010 the Bahamas has been the top honeymoon destination for Canadian couples.
These are a few trends that can provide inspiration when planning your big day. A wedding is a once in a lifetime event and should reflect the unique style of the happy couple.
One of the first things couples must decide after getting engaged is the date of the big day. The initial instinct may be to opt for a spring or summer wedding, but winter weddings in Canada are fast becoming a popular option. There are many lovely venues around the county that are perfect for nuptials at this time of year.
Snow Can Create a Fairy-Tale Setting
If it snows on your wedding day, you will have a ready-made, magical backdrop and the opportunity for uniquely beautiful wedding pictures. Imagine photos of family and friends with gently falling snow in the background. Guests can also pose alongside outdoor ice sculptures, snowmen and Santa’s sleigh. In addition to snow, you may also benefit from festive holiday decorations already in place at your venue.
Availability
The majority of people still get married when the weather is warm, so chances are you will have more options when it comes to venues. Prices are also usually lower, unless you opt for a wedding at a ski resort in high season. There may be less competition when it comes to the availability of friends and family. With the exception of the holiday season, guests may have fewer social commitments during the winter.
Being Different Is Cool
There are probably a lot of people who have never attended a winter wedding, and the allure of a new experience can be enticing. When it is cold, there is a whole array of different ways to entertain guests, such as skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing and snowball fights. There are also a limitless number of choices for less conventional wedding attire. Think faux fur wraps, Victorian boots and funky hats.
Idyllic Spots for a Canadian Winter Wedding
Storm Mountain Lodge and Cabins, Banff
Nestled in the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, Storm Mountain Lodge and Cabins is the perfect choice for a small wedding in a secluded scenic location.
Castle Moffet, Nova Scotia
Located on breathtaking Cape Breton Island, there are views of the surrounding mountains and Bras d’Or Lake. The castle provides a lovely, romantic setting that is the perfect place for couples to begin their life together.
Vineland Estates, Niagara on the Lake
Long considered the most popular place to honeymoon, many couples are also realizing the Niagara Falls area is a spectacular place for a wedding as well. Niagara on the Lake is situated several minutes from the falls and has many vineyards and orchards. The Vineland Estates vineyard sits on acres of picturesque countryside, and features a gourmet restaurant and a lovely stone carriage house that is a wonderful place for a wedding. There are also many charming inns in the surrounding area.
Ice Hotel, Quebec
If you really want to embrace the cold, holding your nuptials at the Ice Hotel in Quebec may be a perfect choice. Composed entirely of ice and snow, this venue is open from January to April. Quebec City is also one of the most romantic places anywhere and offers an abundance of old world charm and fantastic cuisine.
Other Winter Wedding Tips
Be Aware of the Altitude
If you are hosting a wedding in the mountains, and you or guests live at lower altitudes, be aware of the possibility of altitude sickness. Drinking lots of water and not overindulging in alcohol the first night in town are two suggestions. There is also medication available that can help you avoid getting sick.
Protect Yourself From the Sun
The sun can be particularly intense during the winter, especially if you are in the mountains. The higher altitude makes the sun’s rays more powerful, and they are reflected in every direction off of the snow. Wearing sunglasses and using sunscreen and lip balm provides additional protection.
Your wedding is a very special event. Be bold and consider following the path less traveled by having it in winter.
