For my hair pin (worn with my wedding gown), I wanted to go with something delicate and vintage, or vintage-inspired. I found the perfect piece through Grace For Weddings, an American company. I ordered the handmade vintage and modern 'Iris' beaded hair pin. I can't seem to find their website anymore, so I'm not sure if they are still in business. I really hope so, as their hair accessories are truly one of a kind and beautiful. Another good source to find real, vintage accessories is eBay.
When I got engaged, one of the first things I insisted on having in my wedding was Chiavari chairs for my guests to sit on. They have that timeless, classic appeal that is modern at the same time. Although they were not cheap to rent, I made sure I fit it into my budget somehow, because it made a huge difference in the Chinese restaurant venue for my reception. Everyone including the restaurant, didn't understand why I was so adamant about having those chairs, but they all agreed on the day of the wedding that my vision was clear and the reception hall looked much better with those chairs. They add that special touch of chic-ness and sophistication to your wedding decor, plus they also look great in wedding photos. Also from Chair-man Mills, I rented table linens and napkins, because the Chinese restaurant only had red or peach available...yuck! I was willing to go for white, but they didn't even have that available...typical of Chinese restaurants to have terrible choices! Chair-man Mills has a showroom available on-site (North York) to allow clients to preview their goods. Oh yes, I can't forget the large, round, silver, cake base for my 6-tier cake!
We didn't know a whole lot about jewellery, so we knew we wanted to go with a referral. Joseph was recommended by my brother-in-law and also a friend. We had our platinum wedding bands custom made through Gul Jewellery, located at Centerpoint Mall (Toronto ON). I found a wedding band design that I loved through Furrer Jacot. Gul Jewellery did an amazing job at finding someone to replicate it. I paid 1/3 the cost for what I would have paid for the original for the similar quality diamonds. My husband opted for a simple design, that was unpolished in the middle and polished along the top and bottom of the band.
We initially rented tuxes for the groom and groomsmen at Tuxedo Royale, but ended up cancelling the order, because the fit was not quite right for the groom. He is slim build and has narrow shoulders, so his size is difficult to fit. Freeman Formalwear has a wider range of sizes and styles available. We were much happier with our choice in the end. I arranged for the same patterned ties, handkerchiefs and vests, but slightly different colour combinations so it was not too "match-poo." The guys looked great...esp my handsome groom!
Pastor Jonathan Smith is a wonderful friend, pre-marital counsellor and officiant. He also led the praise & worship songs during our wedding ceremony (he's musically talented too). His wedding message touched many of our guests about the love of Christ. He's the type of pastor that you love to listen to and not feel that you are being "preached at". His relationship and love for God is reflective in his messages. He is now leading the Evangel Pentecostal Church in Montreal, we're sad to see him go, but happy he is touching the lives of people in Montreal.
I didn't want to purchase the typical white or ivory coloured bridal shoe, nor did I want to wear ballet slippers or horrid runners underneath my bridal gown (I still don't understand why some brides would do that for comfort's sake?!). I was looking for a delicate, 40s inspired peep-toe, high-heel shoe. I found the perfect pair of shoes by Bettye Muller from their Spring 2007 line. The shoes were not too comfortable, but they looked gorgeous on my feet! I added clear gel, shoe pads under the balls of my feet to add a little comfort. The shoes were perfect with the delicate look of my silk organza wedding gown with ruffles (inspired by a Vera Wang creation). The shoes are available through various vendors. I purchased mine through DJPremium.com at the time. I don't think it's available there anymore, so you'll have to search through other vendors.
Fiona was a real treat to work with! She was so professional and is loaded with creative talent. Her floral style meshed with my simplistic taste. Fiona was very accommodating. For our initial consultation, she met with me during my lunch break at a restaurant across the street from my work. She brought her laptop to showcase more examples of her work. Her new studio space is beautiful and chic too, definitely worth the visit! Fiona and her team did an amazing job to ensure that the church and restaurant's policies were respected. They set up all the flowers and removed them in a timely and non-disruptive manner. I also appreciated that Fiona offered to pick up, set-up and return (for a small fee) the aisle runner we ordered from Micki's, another vendor she often deals with. We ordered the aisle runner directly through Micki's, rather than have Stemz do it for us, to help us save some $$. The bridal and bridesmaids' bouquets were gorgeous. My bouquet, inspired by a photo I found in Martha Stewart Weddings, was wrapped with ribbon from Mokuba (selected by moi). Stemz also created the boutonnières and the table centre pieces for each reception table. Aside from the chic, altar flowers (placed on clear, acrylic pedestals), my favorite was the tall, rectanglar vases that were lined up along both sides of the church aisle, filled 3/4 of the way with water, a floating candle and green orchids. The simple design complimented the old architecture of the church santuary. All I can say is...Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous!
Stephita offers hand-made stationary at a reduced priced compared to many vendors who offer similar quality of work. They don't provide letterpress font/details, however that would have added to the cost of each invitation. We also ordered church programs, table menus, favour labels and satin ribbons from them. I've given them a 4 star rating as their choices of design are nice, but somewhat limited. They allow some flexibility with mixing their designs, but their fonts and icons are limited. However, if you're looking for Asian-inspired, modern designs, this might be up your alley.
My mom purchased a pair of snowflake, diamond earrings to go with my wedding dress. They are subtle and unique for that special day. She was able to negotiate the price.
You'll be surprised what you can find on eBay. I wanted to get some vintage jewellery pieces to incorporate that timeless, unique look. I purchased a vintage celluloid clamper bangle bracelet with rhinestones (from an estate sale in Chicago). It was a steal at $35 USD! The piece dates back to the 1940s/1950s. I also purchased a beautiful, antique Chinese King Fisher Feather Phoenix Hair Pin (from China), which dates back between 1850-1899. It was worn by Chinese brides from wealthy families at that time. Another great find is a company in the USA that made jewellery and accessories from vintage, typewriter keys. I had initial cufflinks custom made for the groom and for the groomsmen as a gift.