Monday, June 29, 2009

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations Veronique Biron & Andrew Mouland - 1st place winners!

Veronique and Andrew are the 1st place winners of Viva la wedding's Inspiration Board Contest! Their winter wedding will take place at the Crowne Plaza on January 30, 2010. For those of you not familiar, the view from the Penthouse level is spectacular! Viva la wedding is excited to be a part of Veronique and Andrew's big day and looking forward to working with them to ensure their wedding is all they imagined and more. Here's the inspiration board Veronique entered to win.


Congratulations Pamela Peacock and Serge Biron - 2nd place winners!

Pamela and Serge are the 2nd place winners of Viva la wedding's Inspiration Board Contest! Their fall wedding will take place at the Bean Town Ranch on September 19, 2009. Bean Town is a beautiful venue nestled in the countryside East of Ottawa.

Congratulations Stacey Cole and Steve Smith - 3rd place winners!

Stacey and Steve are the 3rd place winners of Viva la wedding's Inspiration Board Contest! Their summer wedding will take place on August 22, 2009. The ceremony will be in the breathtaking gardens of a private residence with a tented reception to follow.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

HAPPY CANADA DAY!




Photo Credits: The Knot

AND THE WINNER IS...

I know many of you are anxiously awaiting the announcement of who has won Viva la wedding's Inspiration Board Contest but there's still one week to go. We've received so many great entries - there are going to be some beautiful weddings taking place in the Ottawa area over the next 18 months!

For those of you who haven't yet entered, the countdown's on. The contest closes on June 30, 2009 so get those entries in. The winners will be posted on our blog, once notified, the first week in July.

HONOURING THE LOSS OF A PARENT AT YOUR WEDDING

Parents are usually present for each milestone in their child's life so getting married when you've lost a parent can be tough. When it comes to your wedding day there are special ways you can honour their memory if you want to feel as though they're still, in some way, sharing the day with you - but keep in mind that this is a day of celebration! Choose ways to honour them that will give you comfort rather than make you sad. No one should be sad on their wedding day.

- Reserve a seat at the ceremony in their memory
- Attach a locket with their picture to the ribbon of your bouquet
- Pin their wedding ring to the inside of your dress
- Carry the same flowers your mother did when she got married
- Wear a pair of your father's cufflinks
- Have your officiant dedicate a prayer or reading to them at your ceremony
- Include them in your programs
- Set up a small table at your reception with their picture and light a candle beside it in their honour
- Place your bouquet on their grave the day after your wedding

Photo Credits: Derrick Rice Photography

Monday, June 22, 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

KEEP 'EM COMING!

We're only two weeks into Viva la wedding's Inspiration Board Contest and the entries are pouring in. There are so many creative brides out there! Keep 'em coming, and good luck!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

VIVA LA WEDDING'S INSPIRATION BOARD CONTEST!

Viva la wedding hopes you're full of inspiration because the contest you've been waiting for is here - One lucky couple is going to win free Wedding Day Management from Viva la wedding!

1st prize - Wedding Day Management includes:

Initial consultation:
  • Informal discussion (via phone, email or in person) of ceremony location, reception venue, rough timelines, theme/style of wedding, services and expectations, etc
Six to eight weeks prior to wedding day:
  • In depth planning meeting to review progress since initial consultation and discuss wedding day in detail *
  • Obtain copies of all vendor contracts
  • Contact vendors and inform them of wedding day assistance and confirm contract details (deliveries, set up times, etc)
  • Create wedding day timelines
  • Create checklist of items needed for ceremony and reception
  • Ongoing consultation via phone and email throughout the six to eight weeks

Week prior to wedding day:

  • Meeting to finalize wedding day details *
  • Pick up all personal items (programs, guest book, cake knife, card box, etc)
  • Attend and lead rehearsal on absence of on-site church coordinator

*One of these should be an on-site venue meeting

Wedding day:
  • Manage wedding day timelines
  • Coordinate vendor arrival and set-up at ceremony and reception venue
  • Assist with basic décor as agreed upon (seating chart, place cards, guest favours, etc)
  • Distribute remaining vendor payments and gratuities
  • Crisis management
  • Use of wedding day emergency kit
  • Assistant included (if required)
  • Supervision of vendor tear-down (if requested)

Post wedding:

  • Follow up with bride & groom
2nd prize - $400 off Wedding Day Management includes:

Initial consultation:
  • Informal discussion (via phone, email or in person) of ceremony location, reception venue, rough timelines, theme/style of wedding, services and expectations, pricing, etc

After the initial consultation, should you wish to hire Viva la wedding to manage your wedding day, you will receive $400 off the total fee.

3rd prize - Colin Cowie Wedding Chic

With limitless options, it can be hard for a bride and groom to know where to begin.

Comprehensive and clearly organized into chapters covering all of the celebration—from bouquets to cakes and food, invitations to dresses and reception décor—Colin Cowie Wedding Chic will quickly become the go-to resource for every wedding.

From the first task of determining the overall mood you want to capture to the final, last-moment preparations, Colin Cowie provides expert advice, unique ideas, and inspiring photographs of more than 1,001 gorgeous details.

Colin Cowie Wedding Chic is the ultimate guide to choosing the elements that will turn a special day into an event to remember forever.

How to enter:

- Create an inspiration board for your upcoming wedding and send it to us via email, subject line 'Wedding Day Management Contest', along with the following information:
- Bride and groom's name, address and all contact information
- Wedding date
- Ceremony and reception location
- Approximate number of guests
- Theme/style of wedding and any other details you'd like to include

Sample inspiration board:



Rules:

- Wedding dates must be in 2009 or 2010 and subject to availability
- Weddings must take place in the Ottawa, ON area. If your wedding is outside of the Ottawa, ON area and you still want to enter you must be able to provide Viva la wedding with transportation and hotel accomodations for at least two nights (night prior and night of wedding) should you win
- Entries must be received by noon on Tuesday June 30/09
- Limit one entry per couple
- Winning couple must sign a contract listing our services and obligations to them as well as their responsibilities to us

Good luck!