Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Pumpkin Pie Martini


I know I should be blogging about Valentines Day and Spring and Summer weddings, but since I'm also working on a fall wedding for a client, I wanted to post this recipe for a great fall signature drink:

Pumpkin Pie Martini
Mix 1 oz. Vanilla Vodka,
1 oz. pumpkin liqueur,
½ oz. Bailey's Irish Cream,
a splash butterscotch Schnapps and ice

Shake, then pour and sprinkle with ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice.
For added "pie" effect,rim the glass with fresh lemon juice and crushed graham crackers.

*source - Simply Creative Insanity

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Keeping your Bridesmaids Happy and Fed


Wedding days go by in a blink of a minute, or so it seems that way on the big day. So keep your bridesmaids and groomsmen happy by making sure they have something to nibble and sip on while you're taking photos.

Keep in mind not to include anything that is oily or can stain your dress, tuxes or your girls dresses. Clear liquids, crackers, grapes, and even finger sandwiches (hold the mustard and mayo!).

Having these snack boxes in the car or limo will help keep your attendants happy and save you time from having to stop through the drive-thru!


*source - Martha Stewart Weddings

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Wedding Day Coordination

So you've dreamt of your dream wedding for months, maybe even years now, and he finally popped the question! Congratulations!! Now the fun begins.

You know what you want, and are fairly organized, so you'd like to plan your wedding yourself, but maybe you need some help along the way. Did you know you can hire a wedding planner to assist you in finding great vendors or coming up and narrowing down some ideas for you? At Cornerstone Events we don't only offer full wedding planning services, we also offer hourly consultations to help you with everything from finding that perfect venue, to coming up with great ideas for a color palette, etc.

Another one of our more popular packages is our Day of Wedding Coordination. It's where you plan your wedding, and just want someone there on the day of the wedding to ensure things run smoothly. Sure you could ask your mom, mom in law, or a good friend to do stuff for you, but it's not only your day, it's their day too. They want to relax and enjoy your special day just as much as you do. You also want that for them too! You've put in so much time and effort into your big day, you want all your guest to enjoy it!

With Day of, we'll work with you to create a detailed timeline 4-6 weeks before your big day, review all your contracts so we know exactly what you're expecting and what you paid for, and ensure on the big day all your vendors know we're the point of contact should they need any information or need to get in touch with someone. We'll set up those last minute details, transfer items from the ceremony location to the reception location, and make sure you and your husband are relaxed and can enjoy the moment.

Wedding Days go by quick, so ensure you and your guest enjoy every moment. Call us today for a free consultation and we'll take you through step by step what we can do to make this special occasion that much more memorable for you!

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Friday, January 8, 2010

S'more Station for your Wedding

I love interactive stations for weddings. Not only do you get to share some of your favorite treats with your guests, but your guests get to move around and have some fun at the reception. So when we saw this latest idea we were really excited about the potential of this idea.

We also love the idea of sending guests home with their own S'more kits to continue the fun at home!

*Source -elly b events

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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Putting your "stamp" on your wedding....

Literally put your uniqueness - your fingerprints - to good use for your wedding stationary. We love this idea which we found on Style Me Pretty!

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Sunday, December 6, 2009

Favors

When it comes to your wedding favors, the possibilities are endless. From shot glasses, to personalized CDs of music, you can offer your guests something that fits with the theme of your wedding, or is a reflections of your personality.

But why stop at just one favor? Give guests the option of taking home what they prefer! I love the idea of setting up groups of tables with different options and letting guests decide if they prefer a keepsake from your wedding, something they can nibble on on their way home or the next day or something they can use another day. Let them decide what they want!


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Sunday, November 1, 2009

Table Number Idea

Yesterday while wandering around Pottery Barn for Holiday decor ideas (yes I'm thinking Christmas already!), I found these cute numbered mason jars. So as much as I was thinking Christmas, my mind always goes back to my favorite event - Weddings! How great would these be as table numbers? Fill each jar with a different type of candy - provide a scoop or some tongs, and encourage guests to share their treats with other tables!

Now Pottery Barn's jars only come numbered from 1-3 - so it's time to get creative and make our own. Here are some ideas:

Go to Ikea - yes that's right Ikea. Their Slom Jar is only $2.99 each and looks exactly like Pottery Barn's Mason jars.

Now go to Micheal's, get yourself some number or even alphabet stencils (you can put whatever name or number you'd like on your jar - maybe each table is named after the candy that's in the jar) and using paint that adheres to glass, stencil your jar.

What a simple and inexpensive way to create a unique way to number or name your tables!











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Monday, October 12, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving - Fall Inspiration board

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We thought we'd share an fall inspiration board with you today while you're enjoying turkey and gravy!

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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Karlee and Jason

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of working with Karlee and Jason on their wedding. They held their ceremony, cocktails and reception at the Saskatoon Farm, just south of Calgary. It's a gorgeous little venue and guest had a great time. Wei from Photobolic just posted some photos from their wedding, so we thought we'd share. Now I know were Jason was before the ceremony! Very cool gift!

Congrats again to Karlee and Jason!!

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Great Calgary wedding venue

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of working with the Art Gallery of Calgary where Leslie and Nic got married. We hosted their ceremony on the main level of the gallery, and followed it with a champagne cocktail party immediately after on the second level of the gallery. It was a great way for guests to mingle with the bride and groom and allowed the bride and groom to capture all the photos they wanted with their family right at the gallery.

Here are some photos of their ceremony, my assistant and I were so busy ensuring everyone had food and drinks, that we didn't get any photos of the Champagne cocktail party - we'll have to wait until Johnny from JT Images posts some of his photos so we can share them with you!




Thanks to Dacey at the Art Gallery and all the staff and volunteers on board that day! And congratulations to Leslie and Nic on a spectacular day!


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Monday, August 10, 2009

This weekend we had the pleasure of working with another great couple. Sylvana and Brett are so in love and you could see it through the entire day. Sylvana did a fabulous of picking out all her colors and details, the ceremony and reception looked amazing.

We also got to work with some great vendors. Special thanks to Kristy and Erin and all the wonderful staff at the Sheraton, Theresa from Simply Elegant Decorations, Judy from Cake Sensations, and Corina from Dutch Touch Florist for helping the day turn out as magical as it did for these two love birds!

We'll have some other photos up soon from Maria Lang, the wonderful photographer who captured all the wonderful moments of the day!

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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Sandra and Doug

I was fortunate enough to work with a wonderful couple like Sandra and Doug, who were married on June 6th. I also enjoyed working with Virginia Booth - owner of Hot Shoe Photography. Virginia is such a talented photographer! We'll be posting more photos of Sandra and Doug's wedding soon, but here's a sneak peek from Virginia's blog.

Congrats again Sandra and Doug!

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Candy Store!

I was so excited when owner of Weigh 2 Go, Allison, sent me an email inviting me to visit her store. Since I was literally in the neighbourhood of her store on Southland and Macleod, I popped in to see her amazing selection of bulk food and CANDY!

She has this amazing wall of every flavor of Jelly Bellies - including Peanut Butter and French Vanilla - YUMMY! What they don't have in store they can order for you too. So if you're in the Calgary area looking for Candy for your wedding candy bar, then pop into Weigh 2 Go to see their selection of yummy treats!

See our blog post on Candy bars too.

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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Phoebe Fairytale - the latest in trends

Located right here in Calgary, Phoebe Fairytale combines fun, flirty and sophisticated while creating unique jewellery, lip gloss and hair accessories.

They personally handcraft custom, one of a kind pieces for every day, formal or bridal events. Using quality materials and their keen sense of style, Phoebe Fairytale custom accessories are both beautiful and romantic. Their feather and flower headpieces are a perfect complement to your wedding or bridesmaid dress without the high cost often associated with store-bought bridal head pieces.

Then there are their flower wristlet and anklets. They are a beautiful modern alternative to the traditional corsage and can be customized to match your wedding colours.

And if that wasn't enough for you they also create homemade lip balms - reminiscent of your favourite fairytale and perfect for staggette take-aways and bridesmaid favours. The classic namesake the "Fairytale Balm" is our dual purposes lavender scented balm - perfect for a night lip seal and moisturizing cuticle balm. There are a variety of other fairytale inspired balms: Goldilocks (lemon), Snow White (red apple) and Snow Queen (spearmint with a hint of shimmer), each has its own distinct aromatic oil and tint of color.

Making weddings and 'the every day' special - they look forward to creating a custom piece just for you. They can be reached at
Phoebe.Fairytale@gmail.com

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Monday, April 27, 2009

Elegantly Yours closing sale



GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE

Veils & Tiaras ~ Hundreds to choose from
Guest books, Favors, decorations, crinolines, Honeymoon accessories, and much more!
Everything you need at up to 75% off retail prices
CASH ONLY

Date: May 2, 2009
Time: 10:00~4:00
Where: 457 Elgin Way SE
Calgary, AB
T2Z-3Y6

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Off to Lake Louise!


It's been a busy few days for us and we've been lacking on the blog posts! We'll be back at it next week as we're off to Lake Louise tomorrow for the weekend. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has invited us to tour the facility along with a select few other wedding planners from Calgary and Edmonton area. Then we're off to Banff for the day on Sunday to do some additional touring of venues and vendor meetings.

We'll be sure to share all the great photos and ideas once we're back. Do you dream of a romantic mountain wedding? Be sure to contact us to start brainstorming some great ideas for your upcoming wedding, whether you're planning a wedding here in Calgary, on the beach somewhere warm, or in the Banff, Canmore or Lake Louise area.


Happy Weekend everyone!

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Thursday, April 2, 2009

Sweetspot.ca Wedding Guide


Sweet Spot has just posted their Wedding Guide with 3 recommendations for flowers, invitations, dresses, and cakes. Whether you're looking for a green, relaxed or wow option, they have a vendor for you. Check them out, then check out the great local talent in the city that can help you with the details for your big day!

Want more suggestions? We've been busy meeting with vendors in the city and can give you a little more info - just send us and email at info@cornerstoneevents.ca

Happy Planning!!


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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Fabulous Reception Locations


We've been busy running around the city meeting some amazing vendors. Photographers, florists, DJs, pastry chefs and of course venues. It's amazing how many great locations there are in the city to host an event. Some of the best locations are not very well know, so we've been doing some serious investigation to find them.


Tonight I met with Maria Elena from Endeavor Arts Gallery & Event Space. They are located on 1st Street SW between 12 and 13th Avenue. For those local Calgarians, or anyone that's been in the city for a while, it used to be the old Night Gallery location. Well it's come a long, long way from what it used to look like.


What I love about the space is that it's truly a blank canvas. While the intent is to turn it into a digital media art gallery, it still is and will be an amazing event space. Just think of all the cool things you can do with a beautiful space like this! Check their site out for more great photos!

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Sunday, March 8, 2009

10 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

1. Prioritize your priorities - Is it the dress? The food? Photography? Pick your top three priorities and the three things that are least important, and budget accordingly.

2. Plus One – Don’t feel obligated to invite a date for all your single guests or all your pals at work. Cutting guest doesn’t only save money on catering, but on all other items that can quickly add up such as favours, centerpieces and invitations.

3. Save on postage – Sign up for a free wedding website to collect RSVPs or include a phone number for guests to reply to. This saves money on postage and printing costs. Not to mention it’s environmentally friendly too!

4. Think outside the box – Opt for less traditional reception. Host a cocktail and hors d'oeuvre party after an evening ceremony, a lunch after a morning ceremony or a dinner reception on a day other than Saturday. Alternatively set a date in wedding off season (October – April).

5. Happy Hour – Have wine served at the tables instead of having a bottle of red and white at each table. How many weddings have you been to where you see full bottles of open wine at the end of the night? Save money by having the wait staff pour your guest wine before dinner. Close the bar for an hour during dinner, or opt for a toonie or loonie bar. Your guests won’t mind chipping in a dollar or two for each drink and it will help with the costs of the bar, which is often a big expense at a wedding.

6. Pay now or pay later? – Ask vendors if they offer any discounts for paying in full up front. Often you can save 10% for doing this. These savings can add up.

7. Two for One – Stack favours in the center of your guest tables or have mini wedding cakes tiered as centerpieces. These will serve as guest desserts/favours and centerpieces.

8. What’s in bloom? – Ask your florist which flowers are in season and stick to these for your bouquets and other floral needs. You’ll save a lot of money by doing so.

9. Picture Perfect – Shop around for a photographer and ask if you can purchase or if a CD of your digital images are included in the package. You can save a bundle by being able to print your photos when you need and many photography shops let you create beautiful photo books.

10. Fairy Godmother to the rescue – Many brides and grooms think hiring a wedding consultant is an added expense to their budget. In reality, hiring a wedding professional can save you all kinds of money in the long run. Many of them have relationships with vendors that can get you discounts on their products and services. As well, this is their business, so they know who is out there and have already done the leg work for you, so let them recommend the vendors that meet your needs and are within your budget. As an added bonus, on your wedding day, you won’t have to worry about all the details. They will be there quarterbacking your day and ensuring it runs smoothly.

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Sunday, March 1, 2009

Popcorn Bar




I'm a HUGE fan of Candy bars at weddings, birthday parties, holiday events, and any other kind of event you can think of. But now more and more brides and event planners are trying to think outside the box. So I got to thinking about my favorite food, POPCORN, and how much fun it could be at a wedding or other type of event. Kernels has so many amazing flavors and it is such an affordable option. Just fill glass containers with your favorite kinds, from Chocolate to Jalapeno Jack and you're set. Over at Wedding Star you can even purchase these cute Popcorn containers with cute stickers on them that would be perfect for your wedding! Don't like the containers? Visit Michael's or Creative Packaging and find some glassin bags or plastic bags, decorate with your choice of sticker and VOILA! A fun, interactive bar for your guest to munch on through the night or to take home to eat the next day!




You can also have fun with this idea with cookies too!

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Getting Married in Alberta - Marriage License Information

For those of you getting married in Alberta, here are a few things you'll need to know before you walk down the aisle. You can apply for your marriage license at any of the Registry Offices in Alberta.

  • When applying for your marriage license, you must both be presents at the Registers Office and you both must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs (same goes for your actual wedding ceremony)
  • You must be 18 years or older. If younger, you need legal consent from your parents)
  • Bring ID with you - Birth Certificate, Passport, Canadian Citizenship, Drivers License.
  • Know your parents full names and birth places (yes they ask for this on your application!)
    Both parties must provide their parents' full names and birth places
  • You must be currently unmarried and if you are divorced, you need to bring proof such as a Certificate of Divorce.

For more information visit the government of Alberta site.

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Monday, February 23, 2009

Oscar Dress Inspiration


I LOVED the dresses at the Oscars this year! There were so many inspiring ideas for all you brides-to-be! My personal favorite was Sarah Jessica Parker's.

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Calgary Avenue Magazine Wedding Contest!

Calling all Calgary engaged couples! Avenue is looking for couples to submit their story to win some fabulous prizes! The question? How did you know your fiance was the one for you?


Contest closes on July 31, 2009. Prizes include:


Knickers N Lace - $500 gift certificate


Designs by Manuel – 19 Karat white gold pendant with 0.15 Carat round brilliant-cut diamond, with 14 Karat white gold chain

Inglewood Beauty Bar - Full set of lashes and care kit. Total value of this package is $350.00.


His and hers Bulova watch - Approximate reatil value $700.00

Visit Avenue Magazine to enter today!

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Friday, February 20, 2009

Calgary Wedding Gown Sale at Ethos this weekend!

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Affordable and Chic Bridal Jewellery



Looking for that perfect piece of jewellery for your wedding day? Why not "borrow" it from http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/? Bag Borrow or Steal is a online borrowing boutique for everyone! Now you can "borrow" designer handbags, stunning jewellery or those long desired sunglasses. How does it work? Simply create an account and become a member, choose the items you're wanting to "borrow" and they are shipped to you. You can keep them for a week, a month, or as long as you like. So you could have a new designer handbag each week if you so desire!

We checked out their selection of jewellery and there are some beautiful pieces that would be perfect to pair with your wedding gown. Instead of spending anywhere from $400 - $2000 on a piece, you can rent it for as little as $20 a week! From Swarovski to Vera Wang, there's a perfect piece for everyone that's affordable.
Image Source - Bagborroworsteal.com

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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Our website is launched!

We're excited to announce that our website has launched today! Please visit www.cornerstoneevents.ca
Over the past three months we've made significant progress towards making sure we have all the tools needed to help brides and grooms with their wedding planning. We've completed the Professional Development program through the Association of Bridal Consultants and have worked with a fabulous web designer on our site. We want to ensure all our clients and potential clients know we're serious about our business and their weddings!

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Monday, February 16, 2009

Custom Veils from Etsy


Brenda's Bridal Veils on Esty.com has some beautiful custom veils at some incredible prices. And even more amazing are her designs. I just love the birdcage veil and they look incredible on every bride. Are you looking for that unique vintage look? Does this veil work with your wedding style? Then check out Brenda's Bridal Veils on Etsy today!

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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Yellow Inspiration Board


Here's an inspiration board with one of this years hot colors - Yellow. One of my favorite things about this color is the fact you can use lemons for centerpieces. Such a great cost effective way to incorporate your color!

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Thursday, February 12, 2009

Another great Etsy find


My wonderful web designer Aisa is always on the look out for great Etsy finds like me. I have to thank her for sending her this one to me. These custom cake toppers are not only cute, but affordable! Click on the photo above to link to the site.

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Escort Cards


Escort cards, or seating cards can be a fun and personalized item at your wedding. Some couples even tie them in with their favors. Depending on the size of your wedding you can have a seating chart and cards or just seating cards. Martha Stewart, The Knot and Brides.com have some terrific ideas. The inspiration board I've created above are just some of the fantastic finds from these sites. You can see that ideas range from tying in blooms to cookies! Actual cards are just a starting point! Use your imagination and wow your guests as they take their seats!

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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Valentines Inspiration


I love Valentines Day and it seems to have snuck up on me this year! Here's an inspiration board of beautiful centerpieces inspired by one of my favorite "holidays".
*Images courtesy of BHG.com and Martha Stewart

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Sunday, February 8, 2009

Back from Jamaica! So many great things to chat about!!


We arrived from honeymoon in Jamaica last night and have so many amazing things to fill you in on! We stayed at Couples Swept Away in Negril Jamaica and while we were away saw over 10 beach weddings on our resort alone! I met with Kenisha and reviewed all the options for a destination wedding in Jamaica and at Couples Resorts. I'll be filling you in on all the great options for destination weddings at Couples and Sandals over the next few weeks for all you Calgary Brides that want to get away to say "I do"!

We're also excited to launch our website this month! We'll keep you updated on the progress, but we're hoping we can go live within the next couple of weeks. Can't wait that long? Call us for a free consultation to discuss your upcoming Calgary wedding!! We still have some great dates available for 2009. Let us help you plan your 2009 Calgary, Banff, or Canmore wedding. As Calgary's newest Wedding Consultant and member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, we have some amazing ideas to take your wedding dreams from paper to reality!! Call us today at 403.619.4718 or email us at cornerstoneevents@shaw.ca today!!

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Friday, January 23, 2009

Professional Bridal Consultant

We're very proud to announce we have just received the designation of Professional Bridal Consultant with the Association of Bridal Consultants! We are now officially ready to assist brides in the Calgary and surrounding markets with their wedding day plans!

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Dancing the night away....


Help your guests dance the night away by letting them kick off their shoes and slip into some fun flip flops! Baskets or buckets dressed up full of colorful flip flops around the dance floor will encourage guests to get down and comfy and dance the night away with you. You can pick up a rainbow of colors at Old Navy closer to the spring. We found these pictures on The Knot.com for inspiration. Now off to pack my own flip flops! We're headed to the Caribbean for a fun trip and to check out some great destination wedding venues!!

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Out of Town Guests


If you're having guests travel from outside Calgary to partake in your wedding festivities, here are so simple tips to make their trip more enjoyable:

1. Room Blocks - Call hotels at least 6 months in advance and book a room block for your guests. This guarantees a special rate for your guest until 4-6 weeks before the wedding. You will not be required to put any money down to do this. Guests can be forwarded this information on your wedding website, via email or even in an insert in your save-the-dates or wedding invitations. The hotel will release the rooms into regular inventory 4-6 weeks before your date, so ensure guests know to book by a certain date.

2. Out-of-town guest bags - These do not need to be expensive. Things like a map of the downtown area, coupons to the Calgary Zoo or Calgary tower and a few yummy treats are a nice way to say thank you to your guests for traveling from far away. Pick up a case of bottled water, some chips and a few other snacks from places such as Costco or Superstore, and put them in a simple gift bag. Deliver them to the hotel and ask them to put them in their room before they arrive. Everyone loves getting special treats! (Did you know Cornerstone Events will shop and put these together for you in their full service wedding planning package?)


3. Visit Calgary Tourism - Calgary Tourism will give you FREE guides to the city of Calgary and surrounding area. In these guides there is visitor travel tips, maps, attractions, dining, shopping guides and so much more! It even includes a great "If you've got just one day" article which gives guests a great list of things to do in just one day to take in some of the great attractions our city has to offer.

4. Welcome Reception - If time and money permit, consider having a little cocktail party for your out of town guests. This can be just as simple as a backyard get together, or a party at the hotel they are staying in. Just another little way to say thanks to them.


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Sunday, January 18, 2009

Pure Yumminess


This weekend I had the pleasure of tasting the cake of a fabulous baker in Calgary. Next to my love for Etsy comes my love for Kijiji. One day while searching in the "Wedding" section I came across an ad by Something Sweet by Nicole. Nicole was advertising for wedding cakes and I decided to see if she would do up a Mexican themed birthday cake for an event we had this weekend. After sending her one picture and handing over creative control to her she came up with the cake pictured above. I fell in love with the little Mexican she had created for the cake and so did all the guests at the party! But the true test was yet to come - does it taste as good as it looks? YES YES YES!! We chose a vanilla cake with vanilla bean icing filling and it was incredible! It was buttery and delicious!

Now Nicole tells me she makes a mean chocolate cake, and I can not wait to try it!

Please visit Nicole's website at www.ssbn.ca or contact her at nicole@ssbn.ca or 403.870.7726. If a simple birthday cake turned out this amazing, I can only imagine what her wedding cakes look and taste like.

I think I have some left over cake downstairs that I must go devour!

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Tips for Surviving a Bridal Show

With the Wedding Fair just around the corner and Bridal Fantasy today, we wanted to share some tips on how to survive these big shows.

1. Wear comfortable shoes - I love any excuse to break out my heels, but this isn’t the day to do it. Hard concrete floors + a few hours walking around = very sore feet! Slip on your Uggs or Sketcher for this event.

2. Don’t bring your whole bridal party – There are A LOT of brides, maids of honour, mom’s of the brides, bridesmaids and even grooms that attend these shows, and it makes it hard to navigate through all these people. If you have more than two other people with you, you’ll find you’re always looking for them and not focusing on finding vendors for your big day. Stick to bringing only one or two people with you.

3. Hand cramps – There will be a lot of draws to enter, so save your hand and your time by coming prepared with labels with your name, address, phone number and email address on them. This will make entering the draws a piece of cake.

4. Know who will be there – all the shows have a website that list the vendors that will be at the show. Take a look at these before hand, check out the vendor’s website and try to make a list of who you want to talk to. Once you’re at the show, only take the business cards and brochures of vendors you’re interested in. It will make it easier when you’re weeding through your bag when you get home.

5. Bring water – We’ve all been to the Round-up Center or Telus Convention Center and know that a simple bottle of water can cost over $3. You’ll need it when you’ve been walking around all day and possibly tasting cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries!

6. Have Patience – If you really want to talk to a vendor don’t get discouraged if their booth is crowded around by other potential brides. Walk around and come back to them, better yet, come back when the fashion show starts. The floor usually thins out while the show is on.

7. Sales Pressure – You’re sure to run into a DJ or other vendor who tells you that he only has one opening left for your wedding date. There are a lot of other vendors at the show to talk to, so don’t feel like you need to sign without having talked to the rest of them.

8. Bring a pen and take notes – so you can remember what each vendor said, bring a note book and pen and make quick notes. That way you’ll be able to remember what each one said.

9. Go early – find out when the doors open and be one of the first brides there. Wait until late afternoon and it will be more crowded on the floor.

10. Have Fun! – After all you are getting MARRIED!! Whether you’re bringing your fiancé, mom or maid of honour - make a day of it. Go early, get your stuff done, and then go for a great lunch to thank them for coming with you. You’ll be able to compare notes and talk about what you saw at the show.

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Friday, January 16, 2009

Wedding Programs

This is a neat idea to secure your wedding programs to the back of chairs. If you don't have ushers handing them out, this is a great way to get guests the information about the ceremony to them. Simply tuck your program into a little Glassine Bags (you can get them at www.creativepackaging.ca). Using double sided tape, stick the bag onto the back of the chair, and VOILA!




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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Cherry Blossom Inspiration
















The weather forecast in Calgary is finally calling for some warm weather for the next few days, and with Spring around the corner we've been thinking of some great ideas for Spring weddings. I love cherry blossoms and they look so amazing when they are in bloom. Here's an inspiration board with ideas for decor, invitations and cakes for a cherry blossom themed wedding.


*Photos from theknot.com, cakebaker.com, etsy.com - SandyPhotoArt and weddingstar.com

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Ten Ways to Save Money When Planning Your Wedding


1. Flowers or Food?
Once you’ve established your budget, make sure you know what is most important to you and your fiancé. Is the food and venue important to you? Or is hiring the best photographer in your area more important? Have a plan in place so that you know approximately how much money you want to set aside for each line item in your budget.

2. Venue Selection
Find out what’s included with your venue rental. Do you need to rent tables, chairs, linens and dinnerware? Or do they have all those items included with the rental? Unique venues such as art galleries are amazing spaces, but often you have to rent all the items required to convert the space into a reception hall. Figure all this out and make sure you have the necessary funds needed for this.

3. Trim Your Guest List
For each guest on your list it’s not only an added plate of food and drinks. Don’t forget about decor for the extra tables, linens and favours. It all adds up quickly. Don’t feel obligated to let single friends bring a date. Let them know you would love for them to bring their date, but you only have so much room. Instead seat them with people you know they’ll have things in common.

4. Save on Postage
Gone are the days where you need to include inner envelopes which can just add weight to your invitation. Sign up for the many free wedding websites available online to capture RSVPs or use a telephone number for guest to call. This will reduce not only the postage, but also another envelope and insert.

5. Setting the Date
A lot of couples are now opting for Friday or Sunday weddings. Not only will this open up the number of vendors available, but most charge premium rates for Saturday nuptials. Other ideas include a champagne and cake reception after an evening wedding, or a brunch after a morning wedding. Also think about setting a date outside the popular months of June, July and August. Winter weddings are beautiful as are spring weddings.

6. Bar Service
In order to reduce the cost of your bar bill there are a number of things you can do. If it’s an option, charge a loonie or a toonie for each drink. This allows you to recover some of the costs and also makes guest a little more accountable for their drinks. You can also have servers pour wine at the table for guest instead of having a bottle of white and red on each table. At a lot of weddings we see open bottles of wine sitting there untouched at the end of the night. Because they are opened you will be charged for them. You can also ask your caterer to limit the types of alcohol available. Having just beer and wine available for guest is a great option.

7. Favours
Have your favours do double duty as centerpieces. Packages can be stacked in an elegant way on a cake stand with a pedestal. How about individual cakes as your centerpieces? These will take the place of a large wedding cake. Have your baker make you a small cake to cut and save for your first anniversary.

8. Flower Power
Ask your florist what flowers are in season. If you are not picky about the type of flower you want for your bouquets and other floral arrangements, you can usually find flowers in your colors that are in season. Gerber daisies are always in season and come in some many beautiful colors.

9. Say Cheese!
Shop around and find a photographer that includes your negatives as a part of your photography package. You’ll be able to print as many photos as you need without having to pay $5 - $10 per photo. Depending on how many you think you’ll need, you may want to look into this option.

10. Dress for Success
Shop early for your wedding gown so you can take advantage of off the rack sales and other specials some bridal shops have. Find a seamstress that can do your alterations. Many bridal shops charge high prices for alterations in-house. Sometimes they can be almost half the cost of your dress!

And finally, hire a wedding planner. Most couples think a wedding planner will cost them more money and only brides with large budgets can afford the luxury of one. Realistically a wedding planner can often save you money by recommending vendors that they have relationships with. Remember it’s their job to keep on top of trends and vendors in the area, so often their contact list has vendors you might not have thought about that can save you money. Call Cornerstone Events and let us discuss your wedding plans with you and show you how we can help you plan a magical day within your budget.

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Monday, January 12, 2009

Guest book alternatives




Now more than ever couples are looking for unique ways to add personal touches to their weddings. In an earlier post we talked about alternatives for guest books such as the guestbook from Guestbookstore.com. Well here's another great idea that will last a lifetime - The Wish Tree.
There are a lot of different ways to do a wish tree. From finding branches and painting them to match your decor, or purchasing a metal tree (can be found online). But we love this next idea. Go to your local nursery and find a tree and a beautiful pot that matches your decor. You can even just cover the simple plastic pot it comes in with some amazing fabric and ribbon if you'd like. Use the tree as your wishing tree on the day of your wedding. Once you're done with it you can plant it in your backyard. You now have a constant reminder of your wedding day growing in your yard!

For the actual cards your guest write wishes on, you can use just about anything. You can design them yourself or have your stationary vendor design something special for you. Just thread some ribbon through the cards and ask guest to write down their wishes or advices for you. Here is a little poem you can put next to your tree:

As we begin our new journey as the new Mr. & Mrs.
We could surely use your advice and wishes.
Share with us your wisdom about marriage, love & life,
the secret to being a good husband or a top notch wife.
Jot down a memory of us or a reminder of our day.
A doodle or picture will do if you don't know what to say.
Please don't forget, to sign your name.
What ever you pen, we're sure to treasure
long after this day has passed

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Sunday, January 11, 2009

The bridesmaid dress

Many brides experience anxiety it comes when choosing their bridesmaid dresses. You want all your girls to looks incredible and love the dress, but you also have a vision. More and more brides now a days are letting their attendants customize their dress by giving them a color and some direction and then letting them choose the dress that they feel comfortable in. So when we came across Butter by Nadia we fell in love! Not only can bridesmaids each customize the way they wrap their dresses, but the dresses are one size fits all! No more alterations and worrying about getting your one bridesmaid who might live on the other side of the country together for a fitting! Have an attendant that's expecting? Again, no worries with this lovely dress! It comes in a great variety of colors and comes in jersey or satin, so you can pick the fabric that compliments your wedding style.

Oh and ladies, they do ship to Canada! We made sure to check for you.

You can order them through Benny and Shaw http://www.bennyandshaw.com/

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Friday, January 9, 2009

Logo for Cornerstone Events














After some editing and redesigning we're happy to announce Cornerstone Events is launching their new logo! Website to be launched end of January/early February. Stay tuned for more details!

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Infusing your personality into your wedding



Finding little ways to personalize your wedding can be easy and so much fun. So when my husband and I got married we decided to use our love of football to have some fun. We cheer for two different teams and is the only thing we don't see eye to eye on. Pretty good odds if that continues to be the only thing!

Have some fun with your wedding photos once you've captured all those important shots. Do you and your fiance have a hobby you both love like golf or skiing? Find a way to bring some of those elements with you so you can have some fun with your photos. Getting married in a park? Pack a picnic basket and a blanket and take some shots as you relax over a sandwich! Have fun and make sure your photographer knows what you're up to ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.

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Friday, January 2, 2009

Spreading the News!


You're engaged! Congratulations! Now all the fun begins... but hold the phone, first you have to tell people you're getting hitched. Here's the 411 on the etiquette surrounding announcing your upcoming nuptials.


Children - If you or your fiance have children, whether together or from previous relationships, they should be the first to know.


Parents - Next comes mom and dad. You can either tell them all together - say host a dinner and announce the news, or tell the separately. Either way, they should be next to know about your engagement.


Family - Grandparents, siblings and other close relatives should be next to be contacted. Most times parents start spreading the news to these special people in your lives. But make sure you give grandma a call and let her know from you, especially if you two are close.


Friends - with all of the new social media sites, announcing your engagement on Facebook might seem like the logical way to announce your engagement, but before you do, make sure you contact your close friends personally. Your best friend doesn't want to find out from a relationship status change on Facebook. She'll appreciate the call.

One tip for choosing your bridal party, wait a few weeks and then do so. You want to make sure you and your fiance agree on how many people are in the bridal party before you start asking people.


Your co-workers - telling your boss or supervisor first at work is a courteous gesture. Then tell a few of your closer co-workers and give them the go ahead to spread the news if you choose.


Stand on a mountain top and tell the rest of the world next! While taking out newspaper announcements doesn't seem to happen too often, you can choose to run an ad in your local paper. I love opening up the Calgary Herald and seeing wedding announcements! There is nothing like good news, especially when it's two people in love who have decided to spend their lives together in matrimonial bliss.


Determine if you're going to set up a wedding website. Many sites offer free wedding websites. For a minimal fee you can also set up a site with a unique website address. This is a great place to keep friends and family up to speed on wedding details! Once you're ready to send out your invitations you can also set your site up to collect RSVP's too. What a great way to save on paper and postage!


Happy Planning!


PS - Don't know where to start? Give us a call for some consultation hours, we can help you set up your budget and get you on your way to planning your dream wedding!

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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Winter wedding inspiration

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