the wedding planner
Intimate or Immense…what’s a bride to do with the guest list?
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 | etiquette, media, Q&A | No Comments
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE CALGARY HERALD, MAY 2005, IN LISA HANSLIP’S COLUMN “I DO, BUT DON’T…”
Q: We chose a very small venue to have our reception and it was very difficult to get our guest list small enough. We all had to cut quite a few people we would love to be there – but it simply won’t accommodate any more people. A few of our friends (and our parents’ friends) are quite offended and upset about not being invited. How should we handle this?
A: When planning a wedding, making the guest list is frequently fraught with problems. The process of cutting down the guest list is, at best, the cause of making some hard choices, and at worst, absolutely agonizing. Most of the time it can be an emotional minefield for everyone:
• Mom, I don’t care if you envisioned my wedding having 400 guests – we only want 35.
• What do you mean you want to invite your ex-girlfriend?
• No Dad, I don’t want all 47 of my first cousins at the wedding.
• You mean I can’t invite 14 people from the office, what will I tell them?
You need to decide what is important – the venue or the number of guests. Have you always dreamed of an intimate wedding or is a huge bash more your style? If you have your heart set on a small wedding you have to be a little ruthless with the guest list.
If you’re having a wedding for 350 people – your friends have a right to be offended by their omission from the guest list – however, if you’ve chosen a venue that only holds 50 people – they should understand the size constraints – that you simply don’t have the option of including everyone. It is perfectly appropriate to host a wedding for just immediate family and a few close friends.
Remember a few things which should help before making the final decisions: Your wedding is not an opportunity for your parents to get payback for all the wedding gifts they’ve given and weddings they’ve attended over the years. It is also decidedly not an occasion for them to fulfill their social obligations (nothing makes a bride feel more special on her wedding day than a room full of her father’s business associates). It is also not appropriate to send invitations to a bunch of people you know will not be able to attend – it looks like a blatant plea for gifts.
In an ideal world, you could have your ideal wedding and everyone you’ve ever met could be invited – but unless heisting a Brinks truck is in your immediate future – your friends and family need to be understanding of the type of wedding you and your fiancé have chosen.
Purple & Orange…the San Francisco Treat!
Monday, August 31st, 2009 | trends, weddings | No Comments
This couple met in San Francisco and later got engaged in San Francisco so they wanted to find a way to incorporate that into their reception. I spent months collecting vintage images of San Francisco landmarks in both colour & B&W which were used for the ceremony programs, menus (4 different images), table numbers (18 different images) and seating chart.
It was a riot of colour…rich shades of purple and oranges…it really made the space come alive.
I also loved that they received custom bobble heads as a gift and used them as the cake topper. So cute – and was a perfect touch for their character. 
The bride called this morning to tell me what an AMAZING time they had…they were the life of the party and assured me this wedding was one for the record books.
Best wishes you guys!
A Picture Perfect Palette of Purple
Monday, July 6th, 2009 | trends, weddings | No Comments
We had a picture perfect purple wedding on the weekend in Vancouver. The weather was glorious, the bride was gorgeous and the bridal party was gigantic!
The processional of 27 (!!) was a fabulous cast of characters that included 2 tuxedo-clad pugs, a pregnant bridesmaid more than a week past her due date, 2 fathers-of-the-bride and a handful of NHL players.
The palette of purples ranged from lilac to aubergine and was used in everything from their custom invitations, the flowers, the 3 shades of linens, the uplighting in the tent, the cake, the cupcakes, the 12,000 rose petals that lined their aisle, the custom M&Ms in their purple monogrammed favor boxes, the custom labels on the wine bottles, the custom menus, table numbers and seating charts, to the purple haze martinis that greeted the guests as the ceremony finished…it was truly spectacular.
The Proposal starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock
Thursday, June 11th, 2009 | media, weddings | No Comments
Last night The Wedding Planner team was invited to a pre screening of The Proposal.
Ryan Reynolds plays Andrew Paxton, a hard working assistant to a high powered bull dog, Margaret Tate, played Sandra Bullock. Faced with being deported back to Canada, Margaret fictitiously announces she is engaged to Andrew.
The film is laugh out loud funny, due in great part to the casting! Reynolds is hilarious and lovable, and Bullock convinces us she’ll rip you a new one if you mess with her. The Paxton’s are played by Mary Steenburgen (Step Brothers) and Craig T. Nelson (Blades of Glory), both of whom are always a treat to watch. Last but not least, one of my most favorite senior comediennes, Betty White, who plays Grandma Annie.
I’m usually skeptical when it comes to chick flicks, but I could watch Ryan Reynolds make toast so I was there! And well Betty White is always a riot. It’s a great movie to enjoy with your gal pals, and appreciate some eye candy for 90 minutes. I also have to add that I am completely envious of the shoes and purses accompanying Bullock in the film!
A Fabulous Flourish of Fuchsia
Monday, June 1st, 2009 | trends, weddings | 2 Comments
We had a GORGEOUS wedding on the weekend in hot pink, black & white. The bouquets were quite simple & understated. The bridal party was large in number – but they were all tiny – so we didn’t want them to be overwhelmed or overshadowed by large bouquets. They all looked stunning in their hot pink dresses with black sashes.
This was the largest seating chart we’ve ever had printed. It was so easy to read it helped all 300 guests find their table assignments really quickly.
Part of The Wedding Planner team during set-up
The bronze & crystal trees looked so amazing with all the orchids & swarovski crystals & hanging votives. The room was truly breathtaking. The mother of the bride cried when she saw it. All the details reiterated their invitations. They had custom seating chart, menus at each place setting, ceremony programs, reception programs, table numbers, place cards at the head table, and even the gobo on the dancefloor matched!
We used two large trees on the head table – they were visible from anywhere in the ballroom yet didn’t block any sight lines. They were luciously adorned with 3′ graduated strands of swarovski crystals and whole stems of mokara orchids.
A “peak” at the head table
the ice luge was used for their two pink signature cocktails
This ballroom has certainly never looked quite so pretty in (hot) pink!
We’re So Pretty on Style Me Pretty!
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 | media, testimonials, weddings | No Comments
We just got an email from Style Me Pretty that one of our weddings is featured this morning on their little black book blog (now that’s a tongue twister!!).
Check it out:
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/04/29/ask-a-wedding-planner-a-calgary-celebration/
Kim Returns From the Jewel of the Rockies
Monday, April 20th, 2009 | travel, trends, weddings | No Comments
The team at the Chateau Lake Louise extended a very warm welcome to our team to come and experience first hand what their hotel has to offer our clients. Their AMAZING staff did a wonderful job at making the hotel feel like a luxurious home away from home. Everything from their friendly staff, romantic turndown service, and luxurious suites with breathtaking views makes this hotel a great choice for a destination wedding of any size.
If you’re thinking of having a wedding in the Rockies give us a call. Our personal relationship with the team at the Chateau Lake Louise will guarantee the very best service at the best price.
The Wedding Planner on TV
Friday, January 30th, 2009 | media, weddings | No Comments
Senior event designer Lisa Hanslip will be featured on an upcoming episode of “The Next Take” which airs Tuesday, February 3rd at 7.30pm on Super Channel 4.
With the rash of wedding-related movies out recently, Lisa discussed the ins & outs of planning a wedding.
Two Strangers & a Wedding
Monday, January 12th, 2009 | media, trends, weddings | No Comments
2008 was a busy year for the staff at The Wedding Planner. Not only did we have a calendar full of our client’s weddings but we planned the Energy 101.5’s Two Strangers and a Wedding which was a social experiment to see if love really is blind. The entire process was a whirlwind from start to finish, with many sleepless nights and fun times had by all.
In the end Monday’s bride did not end up marrying Monday’s groom but it was still a beautiful day even without the “I Do’s”.
the wedding planner featured in WedLuxe Magazine
Saturday, December 13th, 2008 | media, testimonials, trends, weddings | No Comments
We were excited to see that one of our weddings was featured in the western Canada edition of WedLuxe Magazine. It was a beautiful wedding in Banff…with an equally beautiful bride & groom. There were SO many details to look after with this wedding – every detail from the invitations to the bride & groom’s exit was carefully orchestrated. Their monogram appeared on EVERYTHING…invitations, aisle runner, silk panels in the church, programs, menus, table numbers, signage, gobo projected onto the dance floor, favor cards, tags on the late night snack, and even the matchbooks to light the sparklers for their exit.
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