This ivory runner was personalized for their wedding ceremony at the Korean Presbyterian Church in Edmonton.

{ custom aisle runner used as a guest book | photo : Sam Ng Photography }

At the reception, we draped the runner over the guest book table and provided fabric paint pens for guests to sign with.

Now Daniel & Tiffanie can take this runner to their favorite framer, who will cut and place this runner inside a great frame for them. Where ever they choose to hang this keepsake, they’ll know that they walked over their names as newlyweds…and remember all those who helped celebrate with them.

Jolyn | Lifestyle Wedding Planner & Designer
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

For H&B’s Parisian Garden wedding in April, we looked to France for some inspiration and decided that since they had an intimate wedding of 70 guests, that two wine bottles of their favorite French Red wine would be a wonderful alternative.

{ guests signing wine bottles | photo: Picture That Photography }

The best part, is that my couple gets to open the wine on their one year anniversary – and save the bottle as a special keepsake of their Paris inspired wedding day!

This works best for smaller weddings, and you must be sure to use a paint based pen designed for glass. The pen does take a few minutes to try, so ensure you have someone to monitor your guestbook table to ensure no smudges occur.

What are you going to do to have a distinctive guestbook?

Jolyn | LIfestyle Wedding Planner & Designer
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

Your signature drink should reflect your likes and loves – and if you love fruit smoothies or shakes, then go ahead, and serve them too as your signature drink!

{ fruit smoothy shooters | Four Seasons Hotel | San Francisco }

Glassware changes your presentation – love these shooter glasses for this presentation of the smoothy drinks for guests to help themselves too!

Jolyn | Lifestyle Wedding Planner & Designer
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

{ photo coffee table book of Italy at Lisa & Cam's wedding }

This wonderful book was found in the UNDER $10 bin at a local Chapters store. What no one expected, was that guests who have been to Italy before, started to leave travel hints and advice on what to see, all through out the book.

Jolyn | Lifestyle Wedding Planner & Designer
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

This one was my favorite signature cocktail from Monday evening – the Elderflower Smash (ps. love the use of edible flowers in the drinks)

Elderflower Smash
* St. Germain
* fresh lemon
* fresh mint
* Angostra bitters

Press the mint and lemon into a mixing glass, add the bitters, St. Germain and top with ice. Stir and serve on the rocks with an edible flower to match the wedding colors! Doesn’t it look wonderful?

PS. you can substitute the St. Germain for 360 vodka if you’d like an alternative drink.

Jolyn | Lifestyle Wedding Planner & Designer
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

Trans Alta Art Barns : Fashionista

2 oz Chambord
4-6oz of Champagne
Top with fresh raspberries

Thank you for sharing Samantha!

Trans Alta Art Barns is located in the theatre district of Old Strathcona and provides a contemporary venue for unique wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

Winspear Centre : Bourban Ball Manhattan

1/3 part Woodford Reserve
1/3 part Creme de Cacao
1/3 part Tuaca

Thank you for sharing Jill!

Winspear Centre is located in the heart of downtown Edmonton’s art district and provides a contemporary venue for unique wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions
780.486.5310 ext.1

However, on a recent episode with Chef Michael Smith – he shared a recipe for ‘Chewy Wine Shots’ – basically jello shooters, but for wine…and then instead of putting them into mini cups, simply cut them into squares…

How cool would this be presented on mirror platters for your cocktail hour?

{photo credit : Food Network}

You can find the tutorial for making your own at home here:
http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/recipe.html?dishID=6872

Thinking outside the box is fun for your wedding reception, especially presenting normal every day options in a never been seen format to your guests.

So if you love wine, and want to share your favorite wines in a unique way with your guests, consider asking your caterer to provide an option like these chewy cubes from the Food Network.

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions
780.486.5310 ext.1

Holidays are often a busy time around my home, as we always have holiday season weddings to fit around all the normal festivities too!!

So if you are in a time crunch, I wanted to share my most favorite holiday cold punch to serve to guests in the holiday season. Afterall, who wants to waste away the holidays slaving on food preparations!

Refreshing Cranberry Fizz
2 parts cranberry juice
1 part gingerale

Mix in a large dispenser like the one from Z Gallerie or serve in a pitcher – add a couple frozen cranberries and lemons floating for embellishment! It’s so refreshing and soooooo very easy!!

Enjoy hosting your friends and family this holiday season!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions
780.486.5310 ext.1

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