When Audrey Hepburn is your wedding day inspiration, you can pretty much guarantee a drop-dead gorgeous soiree.  Because Audrey?  Well, she screams classically chic and that’s something that goes hand in hand with beautiful weddings.  Take for example this gorgeous day from Heidrich Photography, which was planned by the stunning bride with only “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and a whole lot of sophisticated details in mind.  From the gorgeous florals from FlowerScene to the breathtaking La Casa Resort setting, it’s the perfect way to marry the man who is “better than your dreams.”  See it all in the full gallery.

 

From the Bride… To say that every girl dreams of her wedding day, from an age you could count on one hand, is not something that could be true of me. Every time I’d have the opportunity thrust upon me to think about it, I’d just feel overwhelmed. The only thing I could ever settle on, was that my dress had to be timeless. Other words I used to help me dream up my day were classic and fabulous! I felt the classic movie, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, screamed all three of those words, and with a fashion icon like Audrey Hepburn, the vision was born.

It was also very important to me that our day wasn’t one-sided, and that my to-be husband didn’t feel emasculated by osmosis. Therefore, I tried to keep our decorations simplistic.

While oh -so-central, my favourite part of our ceremony was not the vows, the rings, or the kiss (although all were special), but that we washed each other’s feet. In our faith, it is a representation of not only regarding the other as more important than yourself, but that because Jesus has served us in our greatest need, we can accept that wonderful gift and serve each other.

While I loved the glitzy elements of our décor, such as the chandelier and the silver teapots, the most meaningful was the ‘guestbook’. I adore the love story in the Disney/Pixar movie Up, and I painted the house, while people used their fingerprints to act as the balloons. It represented nicely the idea that everyone present lifted our relationship up.

Ultimately, my most beloved memory from the day was that I was finally, officially, joined for life with the man who is better than my dreams. From the beginning of our relationship, God’s hand was clearly seen and we both knew we’d found our great love of this life.

Wedding Photography: Heidrich Photography | Wedding Venue: La Casa Resort in South Fintry, British Columbia, Canada | Floral Design: FlowerScene |  Catering: La Casa Resort | Wedding Cake: Jenna Kossey | Wedding Dress: Sottero & Midgely ”Adorae” | Bride’s Shoes: Aldo | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Le Chateu + Hush

Every day is pretty exciting here at SMP, but Saturdays have a little something extra special that never fails to get our hearts a racin’.  It’s a little something we like to call “the world’s greatest meet and greet” and it features a plethora of fabulous vendors, aka, the wonderful new advertisers joining our SMP family.  So sit back, relax and get to know Lani Elias Photography, Prelude to a Kiss Wedding Stylists and Anaid Productions.  They’re amazing.

We can obsess over photography like it’s no one’s business, and when it comes to spending our entire day swooning over beautiful images, Lani Elias has us hook, line and sinker.  An oh-so-talented photog raised in New Zealand, she captured our attention from the very second we laid our eyes on her amazing portfolio of work.  Need proof?  Check out the gorgeous images below and then head over to her website for even more inspiration… and to say hello.  You’re going to love her.

From Lani Elias Photography… I was first introduced to photography at a young age. Growing up with a dad as a photographer, our home was filled with beautiful photographs, each holding a unique story. I was raised in New Zealand where my fondest memories embody the simplicity of nature and its rich light and colour. From the pastel hues of the ocean, to the green rolling hills and tussock covered mountains, my work is very much influenced by nature and light, relationships and love.

It is my absolute blessing to capture the stories of many couples, families and individuals. My simple, honest approach to photography focuses on celebrating the essence of love and life found in front of my lens.

I am based in Manitoba, available throughout Canada and worldwide.

You’ve been dreaming of your big day since before you were even engaged, and now that it’s time to start planning, you want to make sure your wedding is just the way you always dreamt it to be.  Enter Prelude to a Kiss Wedding Stylists, a boutique planning firm that knows just how to turn your life-long vision into an absolute reality.  Led by the amazing Kasia Juras-Azcurra, you can be rest assured that every detail and every moment is being cared for… stress-free.  Can’t wait to meet this talented bunch?  Head on over to their website for even more pretty.

From Prelude to a Kiss Wedding Stylists… Prelude to a Kiss Wedding Stylists is a full service planning firm specializing in event styling and tailored event packages. They service events of all sizes and design needs, from sleek and modern galas of 400+ to intimate homespun affairs. Their signature mark is to work with clients to infuse a sense of personal style and fashion into every aspect of the planning journey and event design, resulting in a one of a kind event for each couple.

Since being established in January 2007, Prelude has serviced countless weddings and events and continues to grow and expand, taking on new and exciting ventures. (All wedding related of course!) What remains, and always will, is the personal service received by each one of their clients directly from the company founder and principle stylist, Kasia Juras-Azcurra. Working closely with each couple from start to finish ensures the planning process is nothing but enjoyable. Guided by years of experience, couples have the pleasure of being involved every step of the way without the stress and time commitment of the typical wedding planning process. Limiting the amount of weddings she takes on yearly allows Kasia to ensure she has the time required to give each couple and event the attention it deserves, ensuring no detail is missed.

And don’t forget: Prelude to a Kiss is offering 10% off a full planning package* to SMP readers! *Package minimum applies. Max value of $500. Mention this SMP post when contacting for booking.

Photography: Mugshots Photography + Taylor Jackson Photography

We have a pretty diverse group of lovely ladies (+ gentlemen) here at SMP, but one thing we can most definitely agree on?  We love reality TV.  So, when we had the chance to introduce you to the amazing Anaid Productions, the talented team behind some of your all-time favorite shows, we got a tad bit (read: a lot bit) happy.  Especially when they told us they were looking for their next big stars right here in the pages of SMP.  So, if you love reality programming and think you have what it takes to light up the small screen, check out the info below.  Good luck, lovelies! xoxo

From Anaid Productions… Truly, madly, deeply in love… but against all odds?

Anaid Productions is casting for a new reality TV series and we are looking for recently engaged, dynamic couples that come from two very different backgrounds. Be it cultural, ethnic, age, religious, or other undeniable differences – we want to hear your story!

Interested couples should e-mail a photo of themselves along with a short bio to casting@anaid.com by Friday, May 31st. Please include the story of how you met and some of the challenges you face in making it to the big day.

Want to know more about the series?

NEW REALITY SERIES HIGHLIGHTS THE GROWING SOCIAL TREND OF MIXED-UNION MARRIAGES IN CANADA

For interfaith, cross-cultural and multi-ethnic couples, wedding planning can be a time for uncomfortable conversations: When should our parents meet?  How will the ceremony honour our family traditions?  Will God be mentioned — and if so, whose?

The new reality show will tackle these questions, while sharing stories on how different cultures can blend: the quirkiness, the compromises, the highs and lows… and, of course, the romance.

Mandy Quon, a 29 year-old Chinese born Canadian, and Ajit Nakhwa, a 33 year-old Hindu East Indian, are among Canada’s growing number of multicultural couples. The Edmonton lovebirds, who will tie the knot in August, knew right away that it would be a challenge to plan a spiritually and culturally balanced wedding.

“Our families are very different in just about every way. Wedding traditions, religious practices, beliefs about family involvement, how they spend and save money. The process of planning a wedding that respects the traditions of both cultures has been a delicate process,” said Quon.

Anaïd Productions is currently looking for dynamic couples who are recently engaged, or about to be engaged, from different backgrounds – cultural, ethnic, generational, religious or other undeniable difference – for the development of the new reality series.

“We are exploring the unique stories and perspectives of couples as they face unexpected, sometimes hilarious, interesting challenges throughout their wedding preparations and their big day,” says Executive Producer, Margaret Mardirossian.

Interested couples are invited to send a photo and short bio to casting@anaid.com by Friday, May 31st.

About Anaid Productions:

Anaid Productions is a Canadian television production company that produces both non-fiction and drama series. It was established in 1993 and have offices in Vancouver, British Columbia and Edmonton, Alberta. Anaid Productions has produced the following: The Family Restaurant, Hail Mary, The Quon Dynasty, The Rig, Taking it Off, The Liquidator, The Tourist, X-Weighted and X-Weighted Families.

Welcome to the family Lani Elias Photography, Prelude to a Kiss Wedding Stylists and Anaid Productions! We are so happy to have you! xo

I know I’ve probably said it more than a million times (literally), but I think it’s worth repeating: I love Canada weddings.  I love the breathtaking settings, the gorgeous mountain views and the seriously stunning details that you Canadian lovelies seem to incorporate into every last moment.  You really know how to throw a drop-dead gorgeous party… and in the case of this sweet British Columbia soiree, it’s a drop-dead gorgeous party complete with sweet rustic touches, mismatched bridesmaid frocks and a bride who is the epitome of lovely.  See every magical moment captured beautifully by The Nickersons in the full gallery.

 

From The Nickersons… Jaclyn & Chris’ wedding was one of our favourites from the summer. The setting: BC’s Wine Country–the Okanagan. The Okanagan is also renowned for orchards and orchards of fruits from peaches to apples to cherries. The soft colours of the Okanagan–green sage, the blues of the lake & peaches–were a huge inspiration for the wedding colour palette: Peaches n’ Cream.

From the Bride… Our wedding day felt like a dream. Everything fell into place and it went so smoothly. We couldn’t believe how perfect it was. Its hard to pick a favourite moment of the day. Even the hurricane winds we had during our ceremony didn’t ruin our day. We went with it and it ended up being pretty humorous. If it wasn’t for all the help we received from our friends and family our wedding day wouldn’t have been so successful. I’ve never felt so much love and support as I did that day. It was an amazing feeling.

The Okanagan definitely inspired my pastel colour selection. I love rustic peaches and cream colours mixed with sage green. I also love the look of multi colored bridesmaid dresses so that’s why everyone wore a different colour and style. I also wanted everyone to buy something that they would want to wear again.

Chris and I really love rustic farmhouse decor and our house is full of it.  Therefore, we ended up using a lot of our own furniture and antiques to decorate the venue. We wanted it to feel like home and our aim was to create a warm and intimate setting. We also incorporated a lot of do-it-yourself  projects. These DIY projects took a lot of time and effort but we had a lot of fun doing them and it was rewarding knowing that we had done it all ourselves. My bridesmaids and I made the soy wax candle favours, mason jar candles, hanging string lanterns, and all of the place cards and labels. We also painted old frames with chalkboard paint. The night before the wedding we trimmed all of the flowers down and made the arrangements, our bouquets and the boutonnières.

We wanted to make our wedding as Eco friendly as possible so we gave everyone their own mason jars that were labelled with their names. Instead of having programs we placed chalkboard frames throughout the venue explaining how the day was going to go and we reused the flowers from the ceremony and placed them throughout our venue. We also tried our best to give local designers our business. My dress was made by a local Vancouver designer named Tara Atkins. I actually got her last piece! Another local designer named Sandra, made my custom headpiece. I was so happy with the finished product. I saved a lot of money by getting one of my best friends and bridesmaids to do my hair and makeup for the wedding. Kendra Hart did such an amazing job! I was floored at how she was able to create the exact look I wanted!

Wedding Photography: The Nickersons | Wedding Venue: La Punta Norte in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada | Floral Supply: Mom and Me Flowers | Catering: The Hungry Chef Catering | DJ + Band: Friend of the Couple | Wedding Dress: Tara Akins | Bride’s Headpiece: The-Favourite | Hair + Makeup: Kendra Hart, Friend