Wedding Cake – Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, Toronto ON

This week I’d like to introduce you to feature couple Jennifer and Eric.   They were married in July 2010 and recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary! 

Jennifer was referred to me by a good friend of hers and former FLAVOUR bride.  But unlike most of the couples who walk through my door, Jennifer knew EXACTLY what she wanted in her wedding cake.  In fact, her vision was so clear and detailed it made my job incredibly easy.  (I just had to pull it off!!)  What I most appreciated about Jenn was the fact that she has great style sense as you’ll soon see.

Looking at the big picture, Jenn and Eric wanted their wedding day to be a fun celebration filled with traditional elements, but still infused with their own personal touches.  They also wanted to plan a day with moments to remember by incorporating entertainment and unique elements that captured who they are.  For Jenn this also meant adding a touch of her culture in the form of food, entertainment and music. 

Since the day was also meant to be shared with loved ones, not once did they put a cap on their guest list.  Both made individual lists of who they wanted to attend and that was that.  When you really think about it, a celebration is only as good as those who you celebrate with.

The day started off with a traditional Armenian Catholic ceremony partially performed in English.  It included a candle lighting and Armenian crowning which symbolized the couple becoming king and queen of their household together.

After the ceremony the bridal party headed to The Distillery District for some unique photo opportunities.  For those who have never been, it’s a collection of restored Victorian industrial buildings featuring a variety of galleries, shops, live theatre and restaurants along brick-lined streets.  It’s a great place to visit on a weekend, but equally as great for moments like this.

The actual wedding reception was held in Toronto at The Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex – an architectural gem situated on the CNE grounds adjacent to the lakeshore.  Built in 1926, this Renaissance-style building is beyond gorgeous.  It features 27′ ceilings, marble finishes, elegant drapery, and classical decor with a beautiful centre courtyard. 

Walking into this venue gives you an experience of majestic grandeur.  And in the end it was this feeling that sealed the deal for both Jenn and Eric.  After viewing several venues they decided on The Liberty Grand Centennial Room because it had the perfect combination of warmth, elegance, and traditional elements which were a big part of how they wanted their wedding to feel.

From a decor perspective the venue also provided an ideal backdrop for their event.  In fact, the original inspiration for their wedding day was the peacock feather (similar to a recent cake!).   Its vibrant colours caught Jenn’s attention and its vintage flare (reminiscent of the 1940s) was exactly the style that she wanted to build on.  A touch of vintage and a little bit of bling would be what would bring it all together along with their chosen colours of teal, bronze and champagne.

For centrepieces Jenn and Eric decided to stray from the typical florals and instead use sandblasted manzanita branches adorned with hanging crystals, silk orchids and tapioca roses.  As the Canadian distributor of these branches it only made sense that Jenn would want to use them!  And she spent a considerable amount of time casting them in cement bases and displaying them in tall glass cylinders filled with coloured sand.  With the high ceilings in the ballroom these centrepieces were the perfect compliment to an already beautiful setup.

Unbeknownst to Eric, Jenn also had a few surprises up her sleeve!  Wanting to include some spontaneity and excitement she secretly planned three unexpected events to take place throughout the day.  Although they had rented a stretch Hummer for transportation, the first surprise was that Jenn got an amazing red Ferrari to pick them up after the ceremony.  Talk about riding in style.  I’m sure Eric was thrilled with this one!  As a second surprise she hired a belly dancer to perform which was a huge hit based on the guests reactions.  And finally, the third surprise.  Jenn arranged for a live acoustic performance of Cruisin’ Together - dedicated to her new husband.  (How sweet!!)

Check out these amazing candids of the surprises caught by Jenn’s brother Paul, a photographer in the making!

Here’s what Jenn had to say about her initial planning:

Being a meticulous person when it comes to detail, and a vendor in the industry myself, I knew exactly what I wanted when it came to every aspect of our wedding. My biggest challenge was finding the right vendors and having the confidence in them to execute all the ideas I had flowing through my head. So this is how I began.

I was a Do-It-Yourselfer bride when it came to the design of every element, but then found the right people to bring my designs to life. Basically, if I had to put it in a nutshell, I designed the wedding in my head and in my binder with torn out magazine clippings and internet images all inspired by the vintage peacock feather. 

The touch of vintage obviously started with the peacock theme, but also extended to the use of ostrich feathers and boas.  From the invitations, to the favours, to the boutonnieres, peacock feathers tied everything together.  The ostrich feathers were also used in Jenn’s bouquet and boas were wrapped around the base of every centerpiece. 

Aren’t those flowers stunning?!?  Here’s another shot of all the girls with their bouquets:

Other vintage elements included the vintage take on the birdcage veil with fascinator that Jenn made herself and wore, the style of the bridesmaids dresses that she also designed and had made, as well as the vintage inspired flower shrug that she made for each of the girls.  (If you haven’t figured it out by now Jenn is a fashion grad!!)  She also opted for a combination of crystal and pearl jewelry because she just couldn’t decide on one!

Finally, here are some other notable personal touches.  Chair covers are pretty standard in most weddings these days and Jenn knew that she wanted them.  However, she went a step further and searched high and low for ruffled “poufs” to accent the back of each chair.  They definitely added a nice focal point.

Instead of having a typical seating chart, they opted to have individual name cards designed, printed and displayed on a table covered in coloured jewels.  A beautiful and eye catching display.

These satin peep toe shoes were worn by Jenn and are gorgeous!  Ladies, if you’re going to splurge on shoes this would be the day!!)

Here’s a close-up shot of the rings also taken by Jenn’s brother:

And check out their invitations which essentially set the tone for their entire event:

Last, but not least – the cake!  Jenn found a photo of a cake she absolutely loved in Wedding Bells magazine and after some personal tweaks this Louis Vuitton luggage replica was what came out of it.  However, if you look closely the LVs were replaced with EJs – the bride and grooms initials.

When asked about the most memorable elements of the day here’s what Jenn had to say:

To this day, the things most talked about by our guests were:

#1- The Food.  The Liberty Grand catered the best meal we have ever had at a wedding…and not just because it was ours! That was the feedback we heard over an over again. We had a filet and chicken duo entree that was just unreal! 

#2- The Belly Dancer.  She was both mesmerising and inspiring to watch and had everybody on their feet, including Eric. 

#3 – No joke, the extremely detail oriented 3-tier Louis Vuitton stacked suitcase cake!  Wow, that’s a mouthful!  Diane, you truly took every word I explained in how I wanted the design and literally brought it to life! It was definitely a focal point of the evening and I think I lost track of the number of people that came to take a closer peak, and who can blame them!  (As a side note I also loved this cake!!  Thanks Jenn!)

In addition, Jenn and Eric got a lot of positive feedback on their post wedding Thank You’s.  After much work, they sent each guest a personalized CD case with a photo of the guest with the bride and groom and a special thank you write-up of their specific gift.   Here’s the image that appeared on the back:

In the case was a DVD with a 3 minute video teaser of their wedding day set to music (which apparently made many recipients cry!). 

What advice does Jenn have for couples tieing the knot?

The best advice I can give to couples is do your research when it comes to hiring vendors.  Don’t take anyones word for it and just trust they are giving you the ‘best price’.  Prices for products and services offered vary greatly from one vendor to the next and when you are working within a budget it’s in your best interest to at least compare 3.  

And…you don’t get what you don’t ask for, so never be afraid to just ask!  The worst that can happen is a ‘no’ as the answer.   As a vendor myself, I am always open to questions.  Although the client may not always get the answer they are looking for, at least they will know!

A big thanks to Jenn and Eric for sharing their day!

Other vendors recommended by this couple:

Venue & Catering - The Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex (Toronto, ON) www.libertygrand.com

Birdcage Veils - Designed by Yours Truly (Toronto,ON) www.designedbyyourstruly.com

Day-of-Wedding Coordination & Wedding Planning – Designed by Yours Truly (Toronto,ON) www.designedbyyourstruly.com

Centrepieces & Branches - Manzanita Canada (Toronto, ON) www.manzanitacanada.ca

Head Table, Back Drop & Linens – Design by Dina (Toronto, ON) www.designsbydina.ca

Florals – The Creative Bride (Cambridge, ON) www.thecreativebride.ca

Photography – Studio 2000 (Toronto, ON) www.studio2000.ca

Secondary Photographer – Paul Hannoush (Waterloo, ON) paul.hannoush@gmail.com

Cinematography – Spot Studios (Toronto, ON) www.spotstudios.com

Hair & Makeup – Cho Beauty (Toronto, ON) www.chobeauty.com

Rings – Kurtis Sales (Waterloo, ON) www.kurtissales.ca

Stationery/Favours – Paperbliss (Waterloo, ON) www.paperbliss.ca

On Location – The Distillery District (Toronto, ON) www.thedistillerydistrict.com

Toronto, Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo Wedding Cakes, Wedding Cupcakes, Cake Pops

Last week I posted a feature on former FLAVOUR couple Meghan and Mike.  For those that read the post you’ll remember that one of the most unique aspects of their wedding was the fact that their reception was held in a local barn.  I know, I know.  When you think of a barn you most likely think dirty and dusty…with a scent of livestock perhaps??  This wasn’t like that.  Neither is what I’m about to talk about today.

I also mentioned in that post that although Meg and Mike’s reception location was beautiful, I couldn’t tell you where it was as it’s not available to the general public.  However, I did say that if you looked hard enough you might be able to find something similar.  Well I didn’t have to look too hard.  Almost as if on cue, last night I learned that a local photographer friend of mine, Jodi Renee, just finished a photoshoot at…you guessed it…a barn! 

Weddings in a Barn is a new local business based out of Cambridge, ON.  When I saw the photos of this place I knew I had to blog about it.  Not only does it compliment Meg & Mike’s post, but this location is stunning and offers a completely different experience for a couple wanting to step outside of the box. 

In tearing down and restoring the original structure, the goal of the owners was to provide a rustic yet chic venue where couples could hold a wedding ceremony.  Similar to Meg and Mike’s location, this barn is located on the owner’s private property and therefore it’s quite exclusive. 

Set on a 100 acre buffalo and horse farm, the barn itself can accommodate up to 200 guests for large scale ceremonies, the renewal of vows, or even for a couple that wants to exchange vows with local friends and family before jetting off for a destination wedding.  However, the site currently does not host wedding receptions (unless it’s a very small wedding), but can be obtained for special events, birthdays, and private dinner parties. 

I have to say, I love coming across gems like this!  Even though I haven’t had the chance to visit the venue first hand, the photos speak volumes…as did Jodi when she described her reaction to being there.  If you’re getting married and want an unusual and private space for your vows, this is definitely worth considering!  

You can find Weddings in a Barn at www.weddingsinabarn.ca and on Facebook.

Wedding Cupcakes – Waterloo, ON

Some weddings you never forget.  These are usually the ones that have left a lasting impression because of a distinct detail, moment, or emotion.  These are the weddings that you know have truly touched your heart in some way.  For me, Meg and Mike’s wedding is one of these.  

Before working on their wedding I had never met either one of them, but knew of Meg through a family connection which is how she found me.  And seeing as this week’s blog posts appear to be all about “firsts”, it seemed like the perfect time to feature their big day!  You see, Meg and Mike were my very first cupcake wedding!  I had so much fun with this and what I didn’t realize at the time was that it would set FLAVOUR off into a whole new direction because at the time I only offered cakes.  Now cupcakes are a staple and a line all on their own.  Besides that, their out-of-the-box thinking and down-to-earth style made their wedding one that I clearly remember.

Meg and Mike wanted their wedding to be intimate and comfortable, but most importantly representative of the two of them.  The most unique aspect was the fact that their reception was held in a barn.  But not just any barn.  Privately owned, this barn has undergone renovations to host special events and to preserve its natural beauty.  In speaking to the owner while I was onsite I learned the heartbreaking story behind the barn project, but also found it inspirational and proof that beautiful things can come out of adversity.  Unfortunately it’s only available to family and friends so its location will remain under wraps!   However, there are similar facilities available for rental if you search hard enough!

In looking at this couple’s photos and speaking to people who were at this wedding, it definitely lived up to expectations.  Rather than try to explain Meg and Mike’s rationale for doing what they did, Meg happily provided a briefing!  

The tone for the wedding was really fun, relaxing, and beautiful.  As for a theme, because the reception was being held in a barn we wanted to capture the rustic, antique glamour of the barn and add some beauty and elegance.  I took my inspiration from my Grandparents’  farm, a stunning mix of rustic history and tradition with the natural beauty of gardens, forests and trees.  The flowers I remember most vividly surrounding their property growing up.  Hydrangeas were the flowers that decorated the reception and were also carried by the girls. 

We had an outdoor ceremony surrounded by a river, waterfalls and lush greenery. 

And photos were taken at various locations including the fields at my Grandparents’ farm and in front of the stone work of their 150 year + farm house. 

At the reception we kept the charm of large wooden floorboards and softened the space with candlelight, organza, and decorative trees.  To highlight the massive wooden beams of the barn we ran mini-lights across as many arches as possible, so after dark the tiny lights illuminated the space.

When asked if they engaged in any DIY projects, here’s what Meg had to say:

We did everything for the wedding ourselves!  From ordering tables and chairs, putting up decorations, making favours, creating a seating chart…we did it!  We thankfully had lots of help from family and friends along the way.  Ideas and projects that we weren’t able to do on our own we found outside help with such as the invitations.  I found what I was looking for in terms of the colours, the layout and fine details and had a designer put it all together for us. 

And in discussing what they were most pleased with:

One thing that we are really glad we did was the Day-of Wedding Coordination through Ultimate Affairs.  We met with Shelley (our planner) twice before the wedding and shared with her all the details of our day so that on the actual wedding she took care of all the loose ends, made sure everyone was where they were supposed to be and things were getting done.  This was crucial for us because our ceremony and reception were in two different cities.  The reception was also at a private residence and there was no one there to ensure that things were running smoothly.  I would definitely recommend this!  

(As a side note, I can vouche for this service because what you don’t see in the pictures here is the downpour of rain before Meg and Mike’s outdoor ceremony!!  Shelley was prepared with towels and made sure every single chair was wiped dry before the guests arrived!).

Overall, we hear the most amount of feedback about a few things.  One, the cupcakes! (And not just because this is your blog Diane!).  We STILL have friends and family talking about them or asking for Diane’s information to order for their own event!  They were completely delicious!  (Awww…thanks Meg!!) 

Two, our catering.  The meal was devine.  There was something for everyone and it was so delicious.  We had the meal served family-style so guests could eat more/less of whatever they chose. 

Three, our photos!  Sarah did an amazing job!  We had an engagement shoot with her a year before and those photos are amazing as well.  She made it so comfortable and captured all the moments we didn’t get to see ourselves!  And they were more than happy to do some off-roading (in our wedding attire) to get some of the most breathtaking shots.  (Well I agree.  Sarah did an amazing job and captured this event with some truly beautiful images!)

Finally, here are a few more photos of some of the finer details.  

A sand ritual at river’s edge after the ceremony…

Mason jar favours for guests…

A wish tree for guests to leave personal messages…

A ceremony program that doubled as a fan…

Some attire details…

And of course…the cupcakes!  Meg and Mike opted for a cupcake buffet displayed on a variety of platters and stands rather than on a typical tiered display.  The tall stand that you see in the photo was actually a plant holder that Meg’s dad converted to a cupcake stand!  Flavours included chocolate peanut butter, vanilla cinnamon, and vanilla toffee filled with caramel.

I have to say, I’m really lucky.  Not only does this process give me a creative outlet, but I get to meet some fantastic people like Meg and Mike along the way.  And the best part is that I no longer think of them as my clients, but as my friends. 

Wishing this couple a long and happy life together…(with a side of chocolate peanut butter cupcakes!).

Other vendors recommended by this couple:

Day-of Wedding Coordination – Ultimate Affairs (Kitchener-Waterloo, ON)
www.ultimateaffairs.ca/

Photography – Sarah Huton Photography (Ayr, ON)
http://www.shutonphoto.com/

Stationery – Designed by Momentum By Design
Email: momentumbd@porchlight.ca 

Flowers – The Flower Box (Kitchener, ON)
www.theflowerboxca.com

Catering – Village Caterer (New Dundee, ON)
http://villagecaterer.ca/

Dress – Bridal Village (Cambridge, ON)
www.bridalvillage.ca/

Rings - Kurtis Jeweler (Waterloo, ON)
www.kurtissales.ca/

Ceremony – Dundas Falls Conservation Area (Dundas, ON)

Toronto, Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo Wedding Cakes, Wedding Cupcakes, Cake Pops