Megan & Mike :: Winter Wonderland

This elegant New Years eve wedding was planned with the desire for a short engagement. Megan and Mike started planning their wedding with under 3 months to go until their marriage & new year would be rung in.

Megan and Mike wanted to create a modern twist on a winter wonderland theme. Megan knew she didn’t want a long engagement and she knew she wanted windows and trees to be a part of her day, with a clean colour palate of whites with taupe accents. Mike wanted to ensure every detail was taken care of to perfection and that his brides’ vision was realized.

Prior to the Edmonton wedding day, I had to connect Megan with a fabulous seamstress team at Debbie’s Fashions on the north side to correct many failed alteration attempts where her dress had been purchased. After, Megan’s dress fit perfectly after Debbie’s magic and ensured she’d look absolutely radiant on her wedding day!

The day started at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel MacDonald - in the Wedgewood Room. With the beautiful windows reflecting the snow covered trees on the outside, and the elegant birch trees inside adorned with white fabric ornaments - the room was set for a winter wedding. The simplistic white decor of Exquisite Creations were a perfect addition to this very detailed room.

All of Mike and Megan’s wedding day nervousness left them as they enjoyed their wedding ceremony preformed by marriage commissioner Bill Pisarchuk. The bridesmaids wore chic taupe dresses with a light mocha sash while the guys sported tuxes by Derks.

The calla lily, rose and hydrangea bouquets were created by Karen’s team at Awesome Blossom. After a photo session around the hotel, the couple and wedding party got into their white SUV limo from Paradise Limousines and managed to get a couple of their favorite hangouts to open just for them and their wedding photos. You’ll have to wait for their photographer Sam of Sam Ng Photography to complete their photos to see some of the unique places they chose for their photo session on this chilly winter day!

The reception was held at the Edmonton Petroleum Club and was decked out with a modern winter flair. Fibreoptic centerpieces gave a white glow to tables enhanced by coffee beans lightly dusted with gold leaf. Bread plates were sprinkled with edible gold flakes- to give a decadant and festive touch to the tables. The guest book table, cake table, head table and backdrop were designed by Exquisite Creations and featured sparkling swarovski cystals and pearls.

The wedding cake created by Simply Elegant was a sugar dusted 3 tier cake with piper snowflakes and a gold snowflake topper. The newlyweds moved from the cake cutting direct into their dance with the sounds of DJ Hotline. The atmosphere was full of festive spirit as guests prepared to ring in the new year. As hats, noisemakers and streamers made their way through the room - guests anticipated the countdown to come.

At the stroke of midnight - 2009 came in with a champagne toast and lots of celebrating!

Megan and Mike - it was a flurry of planning to pull this wedding together in under 3 months - but your day and the new year off to a bang with a day full of family and friends celebrating the end of a year, but the start of many happy years to come as couple. Enjoy your warm honeymoon in the Dominican!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Engaging Discussions for the Newly Engaged

If you are one of the many couples who got engaged over the holiday season - CONGRATULATIONS!!

I’m sure with all the excitement of being engaged, your mind is a flurry of ideas and visions of your ideal wedding day. You may know the exact path you want to take, or you may feel overwhelmed about all the details and decisions to be made.

For the month of January, I want to share some of the major discussions you need to have as a couple before you get too deep into planning your wedding. These discussions will ensure that you and your fiance are on the same page throughout the planning, making your plans less stressful.

You can also get the FREE REPORT INSTANTLY by inputting your email below and learn right away about the conversations you and your fiance need to have to ensure planning your wedding is a smooth process!

fill and submit to receive your report .: 7 Engaging Discussions You Must Have :.
Name:
Email:
Wedding Date/Season:
Your privacy is important to me - your email will not be shared.  I will not spam you and you can unsubscribe from my monthly wedding tips at any time.

Be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed (the orange circle in the top right of our website) to get immediate updates to new postings in this series of Engaging Discussions!!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Sex and the City :: Wedding Collection

Santa must have known that I’ve been a good wedding planner this year, because I received the Sex and the City Wedding Collection
.

Any chic city bride will love this movie, and will love the collection even more. The wedding collection features a special edition DVD as well a beautifully photographed book featuring the gown highlights of the movie, including Vivienne Westwood’s gorgeous feature gown (you too could own this Vivienne Westwood design for near $45,000 USD).

For the ultimate girls night in, this is the perfect gift for a bride, a bridesmaid or anyone who appreciates the Sex and the City life!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Favour Style: Godiva

Have you seen the luxurious little chocolate wedding cakes that Godiva has available? These are luxuriously placed in an ivory box with satin ribbon and gold detailing. A luxurious, unique and easy favour for your wedding!

These are a delicious favor alterative that is beautifully packaged and ready to be placed at your guests’ placesetting.

Visit a Godiva store near you for all the details and options!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Video Calls now available to our couples!

All couples, but especially out-of-town couples will benefit from this new call technology.

Effective immediately, I am able to do video consults with Nuance Occasions couples (or even prospective couples) through the use of Skype
technology. This free software allows you to communicate with Nuance Occasions through your computer and webcam, allowing us a face-to-face meeting, despite the distance.

I am excited about how this technology will benefit my out of town couples in meetings, where I can still show you some resources and items while we chat - and not have you waste precious long distance fees or cellular fees when we chat.

I look forward to new technology advances being utilized with our business in the new year…these advances help all of us communicate more effectively and stay in touch despite the distance.

So if you are on skype and a current client - add my id: jolyn.saramaga

If you are a prospective client and would like to schedule a skype video meeting, email me at info@nuanceoccasions.com to set up a video call time.

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Happy Holidays

I want to wish each and every reader - whether bride, groom or vendor - the happiest of holiday seasons!!

May you find some quiet time for reflection, some noisy times rejoicing with friends, and some times of laughter with family!

From the staff of Nuance Occasions - we look forward to creating some incredible 2009 weddings and look forward to meeting with many new couples in the new year…

…best wishes…

Destination: Antigua

To continue with Destination December, I’d like you to let your mind wander to the warmth of the sun and sandy beaches of Antigua. Antigua is often overlooked for honeymoons - which actually makes it a favorable island to visit. You’ll enjoy a more serene experience for this less dense tropical island.

My top pick for this island is the Sandals Grande Antigua Spa & Beach Resort. This resort has won the covetted ” Worlds Most Romantic Resort” making this a true gem for your honeymoon or destination wedding. The white silky sand beaches and privacy of Dickenson Bay make this an incredible get away for you two lovebirds!

  

Location:  Dickenson Bay, Antigua
Number of Restaurants: 9  
   - outdoor international dining, italian antipasto bar, caribbean cuisine, gourmet seafood grill, sushi bar, ocean-view western grill, traditional british pub, bistro and teppanyaki-style cuisine served ocean-side
Number of Pools: 5
Spa Services: 5 star luxurious Red Lane Spa
Local Tours & Activities: circumnavigation cruise of Antigua, catamaran tours to Barbados, picnic at famed Bird Island, island safari eco-kayak tour for the ultimate adventurer and many more activities await you on this lush tropical island.

Antigua is perfect for you if…want to experience the ultimate in romantic tropical islands. Whether you want to lounge by the plunge pools, or kayak around the island, you’ll find many unique opportunities await you. Select this romantic island for the ultimate honeymoon experience.

Special Offer: if you are interested in this tropical resort for a honeymoon or destination wedding, I will have a wedding concierge call you at a convenient time, and help you decide if this is the best location for your honeymoon or destination wedding, and provide you with a best price quotation suited to your travel budget. Contact Jolyn at 780-486-5310 or email jolyn@nuanceoccasions.com to arrange this complimentary call to learn more about this unique destination!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

New Look

Just in time for the New Year - Nuance Occasions has an updated look for our entire website. We’ve been testing the template on our blog for a while (so it may look familiar) but now we’ve moved over all our services and content to this new format. If you are reading in your blog feed reader, come by and check it out!

So excuse the dust for a week, while we tweak our photo gallery and jazz up our pages some. I’m already in love with this cleaner and fresher look, and I hope you are too!

Destination Wedding Import Taxes

You’ve found the perfect favours for your 40 guests, and have them all carefully packaged for taking down to your destination…only to find out, your favours are now subject to an import tax???

Import tax you say? Many couples are unaware that any goods or products you bring into most countries, will require you to pay a import tax - even if your guests will be taking those items back home with them.

Advance planning can ensure you are not caught off guard with this detail as you pass through customs, but every year, many couples are caught by this unexpected expense.

Once your destination is determined, find out what import restrictions your destination country has, and what it’s tarriff rates for taxation are? Athough it’s usually not an obscene fee, it can be if you are bringing in not only your own favours, but chair covers, chair ties, table linens and more! It can add up quickly.

What can you do to be prepared? Research the import rules of your destination country, bring receipts of your favor or decor products so there is no price arguments, separate products into different guest luggage if each person is given an safe dollar amount to bring in, and be sure to have extra funds in your account to accomodate the charges or try to purchase as much in the country once you arrive. A little bit of research can prevent some big headaches as you arrive in your wedding destination!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Food Style: Signature Cocktails

I love adding signature cocktails to nearly every wedding - it’s a great way to infuse some of each couple’s personality into their day, and get guests to step out of their comfort zone a little bit to try something new.

My all-time favorite signature drink I found in a Toronto restaurant and then began scouring for the perfect recipe - here it is:

Carmel Apple Martini
• 1 oz 1800® Silver Tequila
• 0.5 oz butterscotch schnapps
• 1 oz apple cider
• 1 ts lemon juice

Combine ingredients and shake well with ice, strain into martini glass. Garnish with an apple slice (and a thin round slice of apple with caramel sauce drizzled over it makes it all the better!)

At Jamie & Mark’s wedding - they offered their guests a Marktini - a decadent pomegranite martini. At Lisa & Cameron’s wedding - they offered their guests a ‘402‘, and orange tequila mix. And for Kim & Eric’s winter wedding, we had offered guests a warmed spiced orange mulled wine.

Do you have a favorite cocktail that you think would make an excellent signature drink for a wedding? Then pop over to our Nuance Occasions fan page on Facebook and leave the recipe HERE - so we can all sample and try out something new!

I’m looking forward to hearing about your favorites! And hope you’ll try out mine too!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

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