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GTA

fontents

03 Letter from the Editor04 Staff06 Checklist

07 Articles 08 Colour Trends for Summer 2012

10 The Perfect Playlist

12 Dating as a Single Parent

14 The Question of Will You

16 Marrying into the Family

18 DIY Weddings - Weddings On

A Budget (Part 2)

20 Weddings with a Canadian Flair

22 Weddings with an Indian Flair

24 Weddings with an Italian Flair

26 Jack and Jonell - Part 2

27 Preferred Vendors 28 Marriage Advice Column

able

Hello Brides, Grooms, and Wedding Enthusiasts,

Thanks to everyone’s help, hard work and dedication, the Spring 2012 issue was a great success. We took the magazine to the Toronto Bridal Show in April and met 80 wonderful bride-to-be’s. After the show, we took your feedback and put our writers and photographers to work to put together an amazing Summer issue filled with colour, DIY ideas, and tips on life in general. We also received some great proposal stories, which we have shared on our Facebook Page. The following couple of months will see some photoshoots dedicated to our expanding list of preferred vendors and wedding professionals and we hope this will show just how amazing out GTA businesses really are. Without further ado, we hope you enjoy out Summer 2012 issue of The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA.

Carmelina KarasEditor in Chief

LetterFrom TheEditor To submit comments, questions or ideas about the magazine to the editor, please

email carmelina@theweddingplannermagazine.ca and include your name, age (optional) and city that you are from.

You may also include a picture.

Raph Nogal

Giulia Ciampini

Bill Giannos

Nathan Kwok

Marcie Costello

Photographers

Renu Eapen, WriterCurrently a student studying advertising at Sheridan College, grew up in Dubai before moving to Canada with her family.She has a passion for anything and everything creative and is a huge movie buff. She loves nothing more than a good movie marathon.

Amanda Williams, WriterBorn in Scarborough, ON, moved around a fair amount in her childhood before settling down in the small town of Cannington, ON. She has a son named Alexander and two stepchildren named Riley and Aiden. She is a stay at home mom who enjoys writing, shopping, and bad reality TV shows. Future goals of hers include becoming a paralegal in the criminal court system.

Brianne Mouat, WriterA recent graduate of the Journalism Broadcast program at Seneca, currently lives in Markham, ON. She is extremely passionate about the arts and bettering the world that we live in, while trying to figure out what path she would like to take in life to follow her dreams. She is currently learning to play the piano and wants to experience a hot air balloon ride before the end of next year.

Alysa Nicole Baker, WriterBorn and raised in Markham, ON, is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Seneca College part time while raising her beautiful daughter Mallory. She has a passion for child psychology and family law and spends her free time writing, researching, and going to the zoo and science center. She is ambitious, strong willed, and believes that making a difference to one person can change the world.

Jakki Tyson, WriterA Journalism student living in Oakville, Ontario. She enjoys photography, reading, horseback-riding and travelling. Her dream wedding would be to elope and get married somewhere abroad, like in the English countryside or in the Greek Islands. And the groom? That would be Ryan Gosling, of course!

Arti Patel, WriterAssociate Editor at The Huffington Post Canada Living/AOL Canada, Arti is a journalism graduate from Ryerson University. She also performs the occasional freelance multimedia work. Her focus is on women’s issues and human rights and she loves the good old interview.

Courtney Echlin, Layout and DesignBeneath her quiet presence lies a passion for the intricate rhythms of design. A born lover of the arts, she combines a designer’s vision with the instruments of the industry. Born and raised in a small town called Oliver, British Columbia, Courtney journeyed east to Toronto, Ontario where she began her studies at Ryerson University and enrolled in the Graphic Communications Management Bachelor of Technology program. Now, in her fourth and final year at Ryerson, she hopes to relocate to western Canada, in Vancouver, British Columbia where she aspires to become a qualified creative director.

STAFF

I’mEngagedNowWhat

1. Announce engagement and hold an engagement party 2. Hire wedding planner 3. Choose venue and date 4. Attend bridal shows in your area 5. Choose bridal party 6. Research photographers, videographers, DJs/Bands/Wedding Singers 7. Decide if you are going to have a wedding cake vs. alternatives 8. Put together a budget and decide who will be contributing what 9. Start searching for your first home together 10. Start pre-marital counselling and marriage classes, if applicable

1.5 year - 6 months before

015 - 6 months before1. Make sure passports are valid 2. Book hotel for wedding night and honeymoon, if applicable 3. Select wedding dress and make alterations 4. Start long term workout plan to get into shape 5. Send out a Save the Date 6. Check marriage license requirements 7. Create a guest list and set a RSVP date 8. Select wedding rings 9. Have engagement photos taken024 - 5 months before1. Pick a colour scheme 2. Pick and book a florist 3. Order wedding invitations 4. Send out wedding invitations (with RSVP date at least 3 months before wedding) 5. Book transportation for wedding 6. Have wedding party pick out clothing03

3 - 4 months before1. Create seating chart 2. Finalize menu with caterer (make sure to point out food sensitivities of certain guests, if applicable) 3. Have a tasting with the caterer and bakery 4. Order the cake 5. Pick music play list/songs with performer/entertainment04

2 - 3 months before1. Have bridal showers (female) 2. Have stag (male) 3. Arrange legal and financials, including joint bank accounts, insurance 4. Attend dancing classes/cooking classes as a couple051 - 2 months before1. Test out hair salon, nail salon, and skin care treatment you are planning on using for the day of 2. Confirm all reservations, including venue, caterer, photographer, music, honeymoon, hotel, florist, etc.06Weeks Before1. Have Bachelorette Party 2. Have Bachelor Party 3. Make sure no last minute alterations are needed 4. Confirm with venue final guest count 5. Arrange for name chanegs 4. Pick up wedding rings 5. Start whitening teeth 6. Get a facial 7. Have wedding rehearsal 8. Have all payments for wedding ready 9. Pack for honeymoon07Days Before1. Make sure wedding license and rings are given to Best Man. 2. Get nails done 3. Get a good night’s sleep 4. Have Maid of Honour sleep over at bride’s house08

The Morning Of1. Maid of Honour and bridesmaids meet at bride’s house 2. Best Man and groomsmen meet at groom’s house 3. Get hair and makeup done09

Hours Before1.Review vows 2. Go to the bathroom 3. Practice your smile in the mirror 4. Stay calm and enjoy your wedding day!10

After The Wedding1. Get wedding dress cleaned and preserved 2. Freeze top tier of wedding cake for 1st year anniversary 3. Leave for and enjoy honeymoon11

Trends For

- Christin Twitchin

Colour

Summer2012

colour trends that are “in” for your wedding season.

This year for summer 2012, the hottest colour is Orange - more specifically Mango Tangerine. Other prominent colours for 2012 include Lavender/Lilac, Teal/Aqua, Metallics, Deep Red, Charcoal, Sage, Antique Blue, and Mustard Yellow.

If you are looking to save a few dollars on your wedding, here is an insider tip: Choosing from the in style colours for 2012 will help cut costs since almost all décor

accessories will be in these colours. This will also help when you actually have to find and coordinate all the pieces of décor, especially DIY pieces, since they will be readily available.

Remember not to stress and to have fun while you’re picking your colours. As long as you love them so will everyone else! Happy Colour Choosing!

Getting engaged is exciting! You get that moment of bliss and happiness before the actual planning and hard work kicks in. When the overwhelming feeling of where to start occurs, start with something simple and precise. One of the major decisions a couple will face at the beginning of planning is determining what your colour scheme will be. Everything from the cake to the invitations to the centerpieces will revolve around this. Most couples stress since there are so many colours to choose from and not everyone is a designer. I agree that there are a lot of colours, however, just stop and take a deep breath because picking your colours should be fun, enjoyable, and stress free!

It’s easy. Just think about your favourite colours by what you are drawn to. Maybe look at your wardrobe, your room, and other colours in your house. Or maybe look at what colours represent your personalities as a couple. The colours you choose will help create the atmosphere and theme at your wedding and therefore they should reflect your personal style.

Personally, I love the colour turquoise. It is definitely going to be a part of my colour scheme. I would also go a little crazy and choose some sort of leopard print because that reflects my personality.

If there are no colours that come to mind that reflect your own style, you can always pick from the hot

The colours you choose will help create an

atmosphere and theme at your wedding.

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 8

Crystal Orchid - Local & Destination Wedding Planningwww.crystalorchidweddings.com

ThePerfectPlaylist

- Jakki Tyson

romantic tune, consider a modern version of an old song. There are some amazing cover artists out there so it makes it easy to find versions of all your favourites! Also, keep in mind your personal love story. Try to find a song that suits you and your significant other. Even if your favourite jam is an upbeat pop song, you may find a slowed down version that will be perfect for swaying in your man’s arms.

Song Choices: Can’t Help Falling In Love – Ingrid Michaelson (Elvis Presley)Make You Feel My Love – Adele (Bob Dylan) “LOVE” – Joss Stone (Nat King Cole)At Last – Jason Mraz (Etta James)Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World – Allyson FournierWonderwall – Ryan Adams (Oasis)God Only Knows – Reddish (The Beach Boys)Maybe I’m Amazed – Jem (Paul McCartney)You Really Got A Hold On Me – She & Him (The Miracles)Somebody – Laura Jansen (Kings of Leon) How Deep Is Your Love - The Bird And The Bee (The BeeGees) The Party - Sure, you may like to drop it like it’s hot, but Grandma Pearl may not be as enthusiastic about it. When choosing your dance songs, try to consider who will be in attendance. If your wedding is solely your young, hip friends, then sure, blast the club music. If not, then try to select appropriate songs that won’t offend your family, or even worse, your new family. Basically, stay clear of songs with profanity and/or sexual references. After all, weddings shouldn’t have to come with an advisory warning. Although, you don’t want your celebration to be a snoozefest, so try to avoid annoying songs like “The Hamster Dance” or “The YMCA”. This is a wedding, not a fifth grade dance! Lucky for you, there are tons of modern dance songs that are both Grandma approved and won’t make your guests fall asleep.

Song Choices: Hey Ya! – OutKast Forever – Chris BrownOmg - Usher Give Me Everything - PitbullWe Found Love – Rihanna Just Dance – Lady GagaEverytime We Touch – Cascada Good Feeling – AviciiMoves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 Home For A Rest – Great Big Sea

Here’s hoping that your playlist and your wedding are everything that you’ve always imagined. Good luck and congratulations.

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 10

It’s the day you’ve been dreaming of since you were a little girl. You imagined the dress, the type of flowers and, of course, the handsome man that you will be walking down the aisle to. But your dream could turn into a nightmare if your playlist is deadly. Here are some tips to ensure that you, your groom, and your guests will be dancing the night away.

Cocktail Hour - While your guests await the reception, consider playing symphonies in the background. It will add a feel of sophistication and will suit the romantic atmosphere. There are several orchestras that do interpretations of current songs to keep up the positive energy and good vibes. Our favourite is The Vitamin String Quartet.

Song Choices:I’m Yours - Jason MrazI Don’t Want To Miss A Thing - AerosmithLove Story - Taylor Swift Fix You – ColdplayChasing Cars – Snow Patrol Imagine – John LennonHallelujah - Leonard Cohen Stolen - Dashboard Confessional Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros Sweet Child O Mine – Guns N’ Roses

The Entrance - The song you enter to will set the tone for your entire wedding. It is your first appearance as an officially married couple, so you want to make sure the song is suitable. Make sure you have fun with it. Choose something that is upbeat. Show how happy and excited you are because you just got married and you should be!

Song Choices: Beautiful Day – U2 I’m A Believer – Smash MouthWalkin On Sunshine – Katrina And The WavesThe Time – Black Eyed PeasCrazy In Love – Beyonce Ft. Jay-ZGet The Party Started – PinkCrazy Little Thing Called Love – QueenRhythm of Love – Plain White T’sJust The Way You Are – Bruno MarsWhen Love Takes Over – David Guetta and Kelly Rowland

The First Dance - When it comes to the first dance, you want something romantic and sweet. However, you don’t want to have your guests rolling their eyes or thinking it’s too cheesy. Avoid songs like ‘The Wind Beneath My Wings” or “My Heart Will Go On” (That one went down with the Titanic and that’s where it should stay.) If you do want to stick with a classic

Dating as a

SingleParent

- Alysa Baker

to do is gather as much information as you can before introducing them to your children so that the child does not have to keep becoming accustomed to new parental figures on a regular basis. Additionally, it is also safer this way to keep your children protected from potential deceivers. If your child is constantly being introduced to new dates, it may affect them mentally since they will perceive that in adult relationships, more than one partner is acceptable. Keep your relationship separate from your family until you are positive it will last long enough not to put your child through emotional instability.

Remember to keep a logical and level head when dating. Because your children always come first, you need to consider their safety and wellbeing. If you have any doubts about starting to date, it might be wise to wait. After all, a single parent can count on the unconditional love that their child can provide and for many single parents, such as myself, that is more than enough.

Dating as a single parent can be quite an experience. Not only can it be fun, renewing and wonderful but it can also add a lot of stress and distraction to your family life at home. No one wants to feel alone and everybody deserves someone to cherish him or her. As a single parent, this may be a question of timing but also about the boundaries you place to protect your child from the “revolving door” partner.

The number one rule is that your child or children should always come first. No matter how lonely you get or how much adult interaction you need, remember that the care and love you give your little ones should be the first thing in your mind. It can be very easy to get wrapped up in the idea of a new crush or attraction, but make sure to balance your work, social, and family time accordingly. Family should have the highest priority.

Secondly, make sure they are okay with the idea of you dating. If they are too young to understand the concept, this may not apply to you. In cases where they are capable of understanding, explain to them what you would like to be doing and see how they react to it. This becomes increasingly important if the new friends you make turn into a romantic relationship and potentially a new life partner. No one can replace their previous parent and so you should explain to them that this is not what you are trying to do. Otherwise resentment can occur when a new man or woman enters their life.

If they are ok with you dating and meeting new people, the third rule is for you not to rush into anything. It is never wise to rush a relationship normally, but now that someone else will be affected, this rule becomes more important. Make sure the person you are getting to know is ok with you having a child and that they are able to get along. The smartest thing

The number one rule is that your child or children

come first.

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 12

Question

of WillYou- Renu Eapen

The

into her class and starts singing while Brit tears up. He then asks her to walk up to him as he goes on his knee and asks her to marry him. Not only did he make Brit’s day, but he probably even woke those who were sleeping through the class.

The Starbucks ProposalShane had taken his girlfriend Mikaela to Starbucks on their first date. A year later, Shane took her to Starbucks again, except it was a Starbucks recreated in the middle of the woods. Shane had gone all out and personalized everything he could. There was the big black menu board with a picture of the two of them and the same drink and food they had had on their first date. Shane pulls out the ring, goes on one knee and asks Mikaela if he could try to make her the happiest woman on earth. To top it all off, Shane had planned a trip for Mikaela to go to California and visit her friend where her engagement pictures would be taken. It was one of Mikaela’s wishes to have her friend from California take her engagement and wedding pictures.

Proposals are what girls dream about but that does not mean they have to be elaborate. If you are more outgoing, plan it in a public place where you will get a lot of attention. If you are more introverted, a simple intimate proposal would work better for you. And you don’t have to break the bank. There are many DIY ideas such as cooking a meal for her, writing her a poem or love letter, or even making a home video slideshow of pictures of the two of you. At the end of the day, nothing is more special then hearing the word “Yes” out of her mouth, confirming you will be spending the rest of your life with your one true love.

Proposing can be a daunting task for the man: from picking the ring, to asking for the parent’s permission, to orchestrating the perfect proposal. Girls enjoy proposals that are well planned and customized to them. They like to know their men put an effort into making this moment special. Here’s a tribute to the men who cleverly planned to ask their one and only “The Question”.

Matt and Ginny Make it to the Big ScreenMatt and Ginny’s story was a YouTube sensation and to this day is known as the most creative way to pop the question. On their second date, Matt promised Ginny he was going to make the movies jealous. Matt, the creative little genius he is, got his girlfriend Ginny to the movies where a trailer he created came on the big screen. The trailer was about Matt asking Ginny’s father’s permission to marry her. He bolts to the theater she was currently in and also manages to stop for popcorn before getting to her. While the trailer was playing, Ginny’s reaction was being secretly recorded by her friends and family. Now Matt’s elaborate proposal is the greatest marriage proposal ever and truly made the movies jealous.

The “Will You” through HaloTalk about going the extra mile. Using his graphic design skills, Moviesign (his username) took his girlfriend to a virtual universe. Moviesign created a Forge map in Halo3 and set up a two-on-two match with his girlfriend of two years. After they started the game, he led his girlfriend to a spot where the question “Marry Me?” was spelled out using weapons.

Proposing on the SubwaySophia and her boyfriend go into the crowded subway where two strangers began to beat box. Random travelers on the subway began to jump in and sing songs, starting with “Last Christmas” and ending with “Marry Me”. Sophia’s boyfriend gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him in front of a big group of strangers who were cheering him on.

Proposing on School GroundsJon preps himself with a guitar and his trusty sidekick to film his girlfriend’s reaction when he surprises her at her college. While Jon’s girlfriend, Brit, was in class he walks

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 14

Marryinginto the

Family- Brianne Mouat

For better or for worse, you may end up having inlaws you can’t tolerate. I highly recommend you take this into consideration before getting married or even engaged. Can you control yourself around them? Can you negotiate and bargain and accept their quirkiness and brash manner? Is your love and relationship with your partner strong enough to handle the strain of potential Judge Judy-like arguments between “Future Mom” and yourself? Have a truthful and honest conversation with your spouse and remember that you two are a team. You must stand by one another and support the other without taking biased sides. This is not a situation like a bottle of wine, it does not get better with time. When you bottle things up, they get worse.

There is another aspect of marrying into the family one may have to consider if you have children from a previous relationship. If you or your spouse has children, you have to consider what is best for them. You are bringing them into a new marriage and they need to be slowly eased into the idea of a new family, a new set of grandparents, and a new family lifestyle. Your marriage will start off with children involved and this might affect your romance and freedom with your spouse. The decisions you make will have to be what is the best for the three, four, five, etc. of you.

There is no cookie cutter “right” way to handle the transition of joining two families but what can help are honesty, open communication, compromise and teamwork between you and your spouse. With those key ingredients any blended family has the potential to become more functional than the Kardashians.

No matter what, they are your family and whatever you say and do will not be

easily forgotten.

When choosing that special someone, remember that they come with something very special and sometimes something very “large and in charge”…their family. Tying the knot may also mean tying your mouth shut in certain instances. Your husband could end up being the odd one out who actually functions normally in society, while his three brothers and parents are diving off the deep end having a different midlife crisis from week to week. Conversely, his family could resemble a spitting image of the Brady Bunch and you will fit in like another pea in a pod.

Not sure how to handle the two extremes? You may feel that this challenge is almost as stressful as planning your wedding, but there are some helpful tips we would like to share with you to make things a bit easier.

You must remember that no matter what, they are now your family too, however whatever you say and do will not be easily forgotten. You shouldn’t lie or hide your feelings, but like your wedding cake, try sugar coating what you are trying to say. You don’t need to inform cousin Agatha that her drinking reminds you of a fish or tell your mother-in-law that when she clings to her son like a monkey on a tree, you feel like she is trying to take control of your marriage. Your words will be appreciated and accepted much more smoothly.

Speaking of watching one’s words, if your spouse’s family is overstepping their welcome in your lives, talk to your husband first to try and set boundaries before you address them directly. He may have his own way of talking to his parents and coming from him will seem more hospitable. If his brothers/cousins/uncles insist on coming over every night to watch the sports game, simply remind your partner that although you enjoy providing the men in his life with your household food, feeding a football team of Italians should only occur once a week at maximum. Eating their cold leftovers and scraps after the fact is just as much fun as trying to find bridesmaids dresses that you can shorten and wear again!

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 16

WBudget

- Arti Patel

DIY Weddings

eddingson a

Centre Piece:

The centerpiece is the main focus of every table and guaranteed that will be a topic of conversation. Sometimes, halls come with simple vases and decorations to rent for weddings. To save money, we suggest this fun and unique idea. Search your house for old vases, ask friends and family, and even go to thrift and dollar stores. Next, go on a scavenger hunt in nearby parks and forests to find twigs and pieces of wood. Spray paint the twigs your wedding colours and use string or ribbon to hang pieces of white cardboard. Ask your guests to leave messages on the cardboard to create a fun keepsake from the wedding.

Dessert Table:

Cakes can range between $400 and $1,000, depending on the number of guests you have at your wedding. If you are looking to save money in this department, contact as many bakeries as you can (online and in person). Sometimes, new businesses are more understanding when it comes to pricing, but be aware that you might also be sacrificing quality. Another less expensive option is cupcakes. Bakeries usually sell them for around $4/cupcake but if you know someone with a flair for baking, see if they are willing to make them a day before the wedding. Additionally, you can still stay away from cake and opt for a candy bar. Take large clear vases and fill them with candy and chocolate that you can buy in bulk. Guests can create mini bags for themselves, choosing specifically what they want to eat.

DIY Money Box And Guest Book:

Most brides and grooms would rather take cash compared to boxed gifts. Some people get fancy with their moneybox and guestbook by getting them personalized. This is a trap to get you to spend money. We suggest buying a plain box and guestbook and using paper, ribbons, stencils, and stamps to create the personalized look.

We hope these suggestions will limit stress during your big day, but more importantly, let you personalize and get creative with your own wedding. Remember, feel free to contact a wedding planner at The Drake Hotel and check out their website at www.thedrakehotel.ca.

Have fun and plan a D.I.Y. Party with your girlfriends!

Even though brides and grooms try to save every penny, they will always want a wedding that reflects their own personalities and taste. Wedding décor is a must-have, however, sticking to your budget and getting all you want doesn’t end up working side by side.

We talked to Wedding Planner, Ashley Arvai of The Drake Hotel in Toronto, ON, on what couples spend most of their money on. “Typically the largest amount is spent on flowers,” she says.

Avrai also recommends staying away from online retailers. “The quality is hard to gauge and I’ve seen so many disappointed by this. There are numerous wholesalers locally who are excellent to visit in person,” she explains.

And for her, saving money on wedding favours can also be tasty. “The biggest hits are always edible! Think ‘to go’ packages of cookies, herbed popcorn or mini donuts for the ride home, paired with bottled water (design your own label), and maybe some aspirin for the next a.m.,” she jokes.

Here are five easy wedding décor ideas you can do yourself. Remember, have fun and plan a DIY party with your best girlfriends!

Wedding Favours:

This is what people will take home with them from your wedding and, years down the road, how they will remember that special night. A quick DIY favour idea is making custom mini potted plants. Go to the dollar store or a local gardening centre to find mini clay pots, in bulk if you can. Next, using soil from your own backyard (or packaged if this is not an option), plant a few seeds. You can choose flowers or vegetables. Wrap your pot with clear wrapping paper and insert a note with your wedding date.

Bridesmaids Bouquet:

If you have multiple bridesmaids, purchasing flowers for everyone can get expensive. We suggest creating DIY bouquets for your bridesmaids. Find a flower wholesaler or even use flowers from your or a friend’s garden. Go to a craft store to find ribbon to hold the stems in place. To add more personality, add their personal gems and jewelry to create a signature look.

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 18

Weddingswith a

CanadianFlair

- Renu Eapen

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe”. This is the basis that most Canadian brides follow for what to have with them on their wedding day. Each item symbolizes good luck and fortune in their marriage.

“Something old” symbolizes continuity with the bride’s family so that no past relationships get lost or forgotten as she embarks on new adventures with her husband. “Something new” symbolizes optimism and hope for her new life ahead. “Something borrowed” is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member so good fortune and blessing can carry over to the bride. “Something blue” symbolizes modesty, love and fidelity. The Virgin Mary has been dressed in a long blue robe, which is why purity is associated with the colour blue. In the late 19th century, blue was the colour for wedding gowns, as the ancient proverb expressed, “Marry in blue, lover be true.” The last part of the rhyme, the silver sixpence, represents wealth and security. These days a penny, nickel or dime is substituted and is often placed in the left shoe of the bride.

Every Canadian wedding has the ceremony first, followed by a formal dinner and reception. During the

reception, the toast offered by the best man and maid of honour take the form of a “roast”, where embarrassing stories are told about the couple before best wishes are offered.

A tradition that often takes place in smaller communities is the trousseau tea party. The bride’s mother invites neighbours and acquaintances that will not be attending the wedding. The mother of the bride normally lays out the “bride’s trousseau” (bridal shower and wedding gifts) for the attendees to see. This way, no one is left out of the celebrations.

The ceremony usually takes place in a church and the wedding party is large. There is the father of the bride and groom, mother of the bride and groom, best man, maid of honour, groomsmen, bridesmaids, flower girl, and ring bearer. The ceremony starts with music and the official will ask for any reason that the bride and groom should not be married. Then the vows are read, the rings are exchanged, and the couple is pronounced man and wife. The groom may now kiss the bride. The couple leaves the church as rice or confetti is thrown to symbolize fertility.

To help the new couple start their life financially, guests participate in what is known as the Wedding Wheel. During the reception, guests form two lines and pay $1 or more to dance with the bride and groom. The Wedding Wheel is not practiced as often as it used to be, or as we think it should be! Instead, guests fill the bride’s shoe with cash as she dances.

The reception is where all the fun begins. Toasts are made where the couple gets roasted for most of the night, the bride and groom must kiss every time people clink their cutlery against their plates and all the guests can enjoy an evening of food, drinking, and dancing!

Something old, something new,

something borrowed, something blue.

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 20

Weddingswith anIndianFlair

- Renu Eapen

The thing Indians do best is celebrate! Celebrating is done on a grand scale when it comes to weddings. Traditional Indian weddings involve a large amount of preparation and planning. The number of people attending can be anywhere between 500 to 1000. Along with a large number of guests, there are other Indian-specific traditions including entertainment, food, colour, and dance.

Before the wedding, an engagement ceremony is held on a date decided upon by the elders. The engagement is a small event attended by family and close friends. The couple exchanges rings, then they exchange sweets and gifts to each other’s family. The “Mehendi” or “Sangeet” ceremony is a fun-filled event hosted by the bride the day before the actual wedding. Henna is applied to the bride’s palms and feet, as song, dance and merriment fills the room.

The wedding begins when the “Baraat”, the groom, arrives. Friends and family accompanying the groom are called “Baraatis”. The groom can only enter the wedding venue, which is decorated with flowers and red linens, after the bride’s mother performs a ritual called the “Aarti”. During this ritual the bride’s mother rotates a small, lit holy lamp in front of the

groom. After the groom enters the venue, the “Jaimala” ceremony takes place.

The bride is always dressed in red, which is the symbol of purity. The bride and groom exchange garland to signify their acceptance of each other. The couple exchanges vows in front of God and hymns are chanted with a priest. The “Phera” ritual takes place where a knot is tied with a part of the bride’s dress and a part of the groom’s Indian suit. The couple moves around the fire seven times. The first three rounds are led by the bride to symbolize her role of being in charge in the earlier part of their married life. The groom, symbolizing his leadership role in the later part of their life together, leads the next four rounds.

“Sindoor” is a red powder put on the parting of the bride’s hair. This is worn by the bride for the rest of her life as it shows her commitment to her husband. A silver or gold chain with black beads called the “Mangal Sutra” is worn by the bride as well.

“Hiding the Shoes” is a popular game played after the wedding has taken place. The game starts off by the bride’s sister or close family member stealing the groom’s shoes and hiding them in a safe place. The sister demands money from the groom if he fails to find them. The two parties negotiate and bargain until a settlement is reached.

Dancing is a major part in any Indian wedding. After the dance and merriment, the “Vidaai” takes place, which is the time when the bride bids farewell to her parent’s house and accepts blessings from her elders.

An Indian wedding is not only a celebration of two people getting married, it is a celebration of two families becoming one. In an Indian culture, when you marry someone, you truly marry the whole family.

An Indian wedding is a celebration of two families becoming one.

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 22

Weddingswith anItalianFlair

- Renu Eapen

In an Italian family, no celebration is without food and wine. When you get invited to an Italian wedding, be prepared to eat and drink.

According to Italian tradition, when a man wants to ask a woman for her hand in marriage, the woman’s father must give the permission. This can be a daunting task for some men since a girl is her father’s princess. No man can ever be good enough to take her away from the family. The man must get the courage to do this in person, maybe over a meal or drink and openly advise the father of his feelings and intentions. The father then will see the commitment the man is willing to make and that he will be able to support his daughter and their future family. Once that obstacle is overcome, the man can prepare his proposal to put a diamond on the new bride to be.

The bride often prepares a “Hope Chest” as a young child in anticipation of future married life. The chest contains collected items, such as clothing/household linens and precious silvers. This tradition comes from the many wars fought in Italy, where families would carefully pack and hide previous items in fear that the enemies would invade their homes and steal their possessions.

The wedding ceremony is held in a Roman Catholic Church, however weddings never take place during Lent. No wedding ceremonies are held during the month of May as the month is set aside to worship the Virgin Mary. In addition, getting married in August is believed to be a sign of bad luck. The ceremony takes place on a Sunday since it is the luckiest day of the week. These days, however, more and more couples are getting married on Saturdays so they have one day of recovery after the party of the night before.

On the day of the wedding, a large ribbon is draped across the doorway of the church to let everyone know a joyous occasion is taking place. In the past, brides would wear a green gown as that symbolized

fertility. Most brides these days opt for a white dress. It is tradition for guests to throw rice or paper confetti at the couple as they exit the church. Confetti represents good fortune and money, which is why it is thrown most at weddings. Another common tradition practiced in Italian weddings is the release of two doves to symbolize love and happiness.

The groom carries a piece of iron in his pocket to ward off the “evil eye”. It was believed that envy and jealously will destroy a couple’s happiness. Tearing a bride’s veil is believed to be a sign of good luck. After the wedding ceremony, the couple shatters a wine glass or vase. The number of broken pieces represents the number of years the couple will be happily married.

At the reception, the best part of the Italian wedding comes – the feast! No one leaves an Italian wedding hungry. There are about 7 courses in an Italian wedding meal: the antipasto, appetizers, soup, salad, meat, pasta, and dessert. No one will ever leave the wedding hungry.

With the joyous occasion taking place, Italians believe in celebrating and feasting with family and friends. Nothing is better than festive food and wine with the people you love - your 250 closest friends and family members.

At the reception, the best part of the

Italian wedding comes - the feast!

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 24

Jack and

Jonell Born in Scarborough, ON and currently residing in Markham, ON, Jesse is a freelance writer and a jack of all trades. He hopes to enter many industries and make a definite impact in the lives of young people.

Featured Guest Writer

Part 2- Jesse So

None of it mattered. In his mind, there was only one woman that had come and gone. The same one that had left him heart broken and never the same.

The two gentlemen stepped into the sunlight and lit their cigarettes, “You know, you should really quit Jack.”

Jack gave a shrug. “Eventually,” came his simple reply.

“I only smoke when I’m with you and that’s only because you hate smoking alone.”

“Do you think she still remembers?” Jack asked suddenly turning to Ralph.

Ralph gave a shrug, “She probably does, but who’s to say? Are you sure that it’s the same woman?”

“Positive.” Jack said taking a long drag of his smoke.

There was only one woman that had

come and gone. The same one that had left

him heart broken.

“How did the meeting with the client go?” His partner asked as he walked into their office.

“Well I would say but...” Jack said putting his jacket down on his chair. He walked over to the doorway of his partner’s office, “Hey do you remember Jones?” he changed the pace.

Ralph looked up from his work, “You mean the client you just met with? No, I’ve never met her before.”

Jack smiled, his partner was always the oblivious type.

“No, Jones from college.”

Ralph took his frameless glasses off, “Oh, yes, I think I recall knowing a girl by that name.”

“You remember what her real name was? Jones was just what everybody would call her.”

“It was…” Ralph’s voice trailed off as he came to the same conclusion that Jack already had. “Wow, this world is too small; you think she remembers you?”

Jack shrugged, “I wouldn’t know, she played it off pretty well if she doesn’t.”

“Well,” Ralph stood up and walked towards Jack, “You two did have a thing for the longest time back in the day.”

Jack shrugged as he and Ralph walked outside. “It was always her that was hesitant.”

In truth, it had been years since college; all of them had come so far in life. Yet Jack had never seemed to be able to find a woman to settle down with. It didn’t matter how beautiful, how successful, how loyal.

The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 26

- To be continued in the next issue

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The Wedding Planner Magazine GTA • Summer 2012 • Page 28

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