It is always an honour to have our work featured in print, and I couldn't be more thrilled to have Natosha & Bryant's spring 2015 Hatley Castle wedding, in the most recent issue of wedding bells.  I mean, gorgeous jewel toned palette, classic with an edge design, and a head over heels in love couple?!!  Pretty awesome if you ask me!  Working with Natosha & Bryant on their wedding was a total treat and I loved every moment of planning and designing their day and seeing it come to life.  

The first few conversations with a couple always give us a pretty accurate idea of their priorities, overall aesthetic and personalities.  We like to get a good sense of how they decorate their home, what a perfect date night might look like, and how they normally celebrate with their friends and family.  For Natosha & Bryant, it became very clear early on, that these guys wanted a day that allowed their guests to relax and enjoy the gorgeous grounds at the Castle, listen to good music and feel like them, even though they were in a castle.  And so, with a personal style described to us as traditional, but with an edge, that is exactly what we set out to do.  Fun pops of colour and watercolour were infused throughout, and texture mixed with soft blooms, took centre stage in the florals.  Colourful lounge seating on the terrace, lawn games, and the formal dining room, all flowed seamlessly into one another, and was a space the guests could enjoy all throughout.  And the music, both live and and a customized playlist of all the couples favourites, kept the guests dancing and mingling under the stars, all night long.  

Thank you Natosha & Bryant, for trusting us with your wedding vision, and for having us be a part of this incredible day!  And thank you to ALL the amazing vendors, who made this day not only perfect for the couple, but magazine worthy too!

Photography: Kim Kalyn Photography
Venue: Hatley Castle
Catering: Truffles Catering
Florals: FLEURtacious by Lynda Marie
Invitations: Rock Paper Square
Day of Stationery: French Kiss Events
Design: French Kiss Events
Furniture Rentals: Bash Specialty
DJ: Hiway Productions
Ceremony Music: Allegro Con Trio
Hair: Conscious Hair by Elena
Makeup: Beauty & Style by Erin Bradley

**All photos below courtesy of Kim Kalyn Photography

Photo by the lovely Jesse Holland.

Well folks, we are just a few short sleeps away from Christmas, and I have been thoroughly enjoying all the holiday cheer and festivities that is around this time of year.  It has been an incredible year for us, and we have so much to be thankful for.  Work wise, we have so much to be grateful for, and Emma, Laura & I thank our lucky stars that we get to work with such lovely clients and vendor friends day in and day out.  Our year-end review will be on the blog next week, so stay tuned for sure!  

Getting to spend the holidays with family & friends is definitely at the top of the list, and I can hardly believe that this year will be Nicks & my 10th Christmas together!  I have loved all the traditions we have created over the years, with my favourite being our Christmas Eve.  It is a night that is always filled with mulled wine, croquettes, and staying up until the wee hours of the night with old friends.  So, as we continue to prepare for Santa's big night on Friday, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and hope that your holidays are filled with many laughs, cozy moments with loved ones, and wonderful memories.

xo
Barb

Sometimes I can hardly believe how lucky I am to be doing the job that I am.  Every couple that invites me into their lives during this incredible exciting time is special, and I love the relationships that are created with each one throughout the planning.  Every once in a while though, a couple comes along that steals my heart completely.  Karley & Timon were one of those couples.  They immediately welcomed me with open arms into their lives, and our year of planning was filled with some serious laughs, lots of baby cuddles, hilarious antcidotes of motherhood vs. wedding planning, and more love than I can imagine.  You see, Karley & Timon decided to take on the immense task of planning their dream wedding, right after the birth of their twin boys.  Combine that with also raising the sweetest 4 year old around, you could say their life was a bit hectic.

It was such an honour to be able to create this day for them, and take away all the stress that can come along with planning.  The details were absolutely exquisite and will go down as one of my favourite weddings of 2015.  They wanted a day all about family & friends, and we designed just that.  In the afternoon, an English inspired garden party took place, with 40 of their nearest and dearest.  Elegant lounge seating, gourmet food stations (like a pretzel bar!), a live string strio and gorgeous florals, all helped to set the tone.  In the evening, 20 of the couples closest friends came together and experienced one of the funniest evenings I have ever witnessed!  A murder mystery group took over, and entertained the guests throughout courses of the gourmet dinner.  Truly a day that I will never forget.   Thank you so much to the incredibly talented Ryan MacDonald Photography, for the photos below.  Make sure to scroll to the end, for a complete list of all the vendors who helped make this day so perfect.

Planning/Design: French Kiss Events
Florals: Verbena Floral Design
Photography: Ryan MacDonald Photography
Venue: Villa Marco Polo
Catering: Toque Catering
Tent & Rentals: Black & White Events
Furniture Rentals: Bash Specialty
Hair: Conscious Hair
Makeup: Melanie Baird
Invitation: Minted
Day of Stationery: French Kiss Events
Music: Allegro Con Trio
Murder Mystery Group: Victoria Murder Mystery

Seeing our work printed, is always incredible.  But seeing a wedding that was a true labour of love for all the vendors and for 2 very special people...well that is just as good as it gets folks!  The most recent copy of Utterly Engaged is available to order, and amongst it's gorgeous pages of drool worth inspiration, is the wedding of Stephanie & James.  I first met Stephanie through my good friend Vanessa, of Verbena Floral Design, who snatched her up to join her crew, once discovering Steph's insane floral talent!  So, you can only imagine all the fun that we had planning their wedding, which included an over abundance of beautiful blooms, the perfect setting, a team of vendors who all know and love each other, and 2 of the best people I know!  Thank you, Steph & James, for asking us to be a part of your wedding!  We couldn't have asked for a better couple, and have loved being a part of your story ever since! And thank you to ALL the amazing vendors who helped make this day what it was!  Make sure to read below to see some of my favourite moments from the day.

Photography: E/A Photography
Planning - French Kiss Events
Florals & Decor - Verbena Floral Design
Venue - Starling Lane Winery
Bridal Gown - The White Peony
Beauty Team - Conscious Hair by Elena, Melanie Baird Makeup Artistry & Beauty & Style by Erin Bradley
Cake - Pure Vanilla
Catering -  Truffles Catering 
Decor Rentals - Simply Sunday Vintage Rentals 

All images courtesy of E/A Photography

Last Sunday was the 4th bi-annual Victoria Wedding Industry Meetup, and what a lovely day it was!  Set at DeVine Vineyards, we enjoyed many a glasses of wine, great food, relaxing music, lots of fun, and all while soaking up the incredible view!! (Seriously...if you haven't had a chance to check out this place, do it now!!)  Planning these Meetups, along with Jesse Holland Photography, is always one of my favourite things to do each year, as what is more fun than planning a party for your fellow industry mates?!! And getting to really relax and catch up with lots of new & old friends, is really what it's all about! 

This Springs event was a huge success, and would definitely have not been possible without some incredibly talented people.  And if you're interested in seeing what a party thrown by wedding vendors for wedding vendors, looks like, make sure to check out Jesse Holland's photos below! A special thanks to: 

Castro Boateng 
DeVine Vineyards
Ruth & Dean
Bash Specialty
Tuktu Paper Co.
Trend Decor
Four Frames Photobooth
Geoffrey Lundstrom
Verbena Floral Design
Scene About Town

I can hardly believe that it has been almost 6 months, since my handsome hubby & I officially tied the knot!  Where does the time go?!!  Before I know it, I'm going to be on the hunt for something "paper" to celebrate our first anniversary!  How exciting!  

In celebration of our wedding being featured on one of my favourite blogs, Style Me Pretty, last week, I thought it was about time that I shared a more personal look into what truly was, the best day of our lives!  Over on SMP, I wrote a long blurb (what Nick refers to as "the essay") that shares a bit beyond our story, the design inspiration, and why we chose Maui.  Over here though, I thought I would keep things on the simple side, and share my top 10 favourite moments of the day.

So, without further ado, here are my Top 10 Favourite Moments (in no particular order), all captured beautifully, but the insanely talented AMERIS.

1. After arriving to the location where Nick & I would share our first look, I was informed that I had to hop the fence. Challenge accepted.

Photo by: AMERIS

2. Our first look.  I'm pretty sure Nick was feeling the same thing I was in this moment...

Photo by: AMERIS

3. A quick pit stop with our wedding party. The guy at the taco truck didn't know what had hit him when we showed up.

Photo by: AMERIS

4. The moment when my Dad came to get me to walk me down the aisle.  

Photo by: AMERIS

5. Exchanging our vows, and getting to share smiles with this man throughout them.

Photo by: AMERIS

6.  Our first kiss as a married couple. This was definitely a good moment.

Photo by: AMERIS

7. Walking through our reception for the first time, with the amazing ladies of Belle Destination. It was fun getting to be on the other side of this "tour" for once!

Photo by: AMERIS

8. Sharing our first dance, under the Hawaiian sky.

Photo by: AMERIS

9. High Fives all around!  

Photo by: AMERIS

10. Laughing over the piece of cake that fell down my dress. Yup.  That happened.

Photo by: AMERIS

With Valentines day just a few sleeps away, it seems like beautiful blooms are on display around every corner!! Flowers (I think, at least) are the best gift for your loved ones on V-Day, and will always be appreciated (I'm talking to you Nick).  With this in mind, I've gone through the archives of all the beautiful real weddings I've had the honour of being a part of, and gathered my top 5 favourite Bridal bouquets.  So, without further ado (and in no particular order).... 1. This Pender Island wedding holds a very special place in my heart, for many reasons....and the guinea feathers poking through in Nicole's soft and romantic bouquet, just so happens to be one of those reasons.

Bouquet by: Verbena Floral Design | Photo by: Jennifer Ballard Photography  | Pender Island, 2012

View More: http://ameris.pass.us/kristy-matt-married

2. This textural beauty is so incredibly unique, and was perfectly fitting for this Farm wedding. And I could star at those rich colours all day long...I mean, black ranunculus' in a bouquet?  Gorgeous!!!!

Bouquet by: Rook & Rose Floral Design Boutique | Photo by: AMERIS | Birds Eye Cove, 2013

View More: http://centricphotography.pass.us/lydsdayanddan

3. This soft and natural inspired bouquet, just oozed romance!  The splashes of chocolate cosmos, mixed with berries, lush roses, and soft ferns, was utter perfection for this farm to table wedding.  I'm pretty sure I could stare at this one all day!

Bouquet by: Clare Day Flowers  |  Photo by: Centric Photography  |  Birds Eye Cove, 2014

4. This one had me at hello.  The rich colour palette, textural elements, flowing ribbon...it was even more stunning in person! And making it even more special, a lady slipper orchid was added at the last minute by chance, which just so happened to be the national flower of Singapore (the Bride's home)

Bouquet by: Verbena Floral Design  |  Photo by: Kelly Brown Photographer  |  Starling Lane, 2014

5. This sweet posy was filled with so much goodness, I can hardly stand it!!  Featuring my personal favourite flower of all time, the Anenome, it couldn't not make this list!  And the perfect balance of texture and soft blooms, makes it perfectly west coast!

Bouquet by: FLEURtacious by Lynda Marie | Photo by: Hunt and Gather Photography | Ward Room, 2013

One of my business goals of 2014, was to have some of my work featured in print.  Well, 4 features later, I would say that it is safe to say that when you put your goals out there, and are willing to work hard to achieve them, anything is possible!  The most recent feature, is in the current issue of Wedding Bells (it's their anniversary issue, and oh man...it is a good one, so make sure to pick yours up!), and features Karly & Matt's Fairburn Farm wedding.  It's full of charm, love, and gorgeous images (courtesy of Christie Graham Photography), and perfectly sums up this wonderful day.  Thank you so much Wedding Bells, for the feature!! It is truly a career highlight, seeing our name in your magazine! Last summer, on the hottest (seriously) day of the year, Karly & Matt got married.  And oh, it was lovely!  I had been working with this sweet as can be couple, for over 18 months, and seeing everything come together just as they had dreamed it would, was so special!   When the planning first began, all we really knew was that they wanted a venue that felt like home.  Somewhere that they could relax with their family & friends, and celebrate in a space that truly felt like them.  When we discovered Fairburn Farmstay, we knew that the hunt was over, and the planning all just fell into place after that!

With a vintage palette of blues, peaches and purples, the decor was kept soft and romantic, through the locally grown flowers, simple table settings and small touches of glamour.  Lavender was found throughout (and was sourced locally here on the Island), and the lavender bridesmaid bouquets were just too pretty for words!  Simplicity at its best!  This wedding day was one of many laughs, beautiful moments, and the most perfect setting, and I am honoured to have been a part of it.  And here's a look at some of my favourite pieces of the day, all made possible by the following amazing vendors:

Photography: Christie Graham Photography 2nd Shooter: Kelly Brown Photography Planning/Design: French Kiss Events Venue: Fairburn Farmstay Florals: Cartref Gardens Catering: Food For Thought Vintage Rentals: Simply Sunday Vintage Rentals Beauty: Belle Amour Wedding Dress: Ladybelle Bridal

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Adrian Michael Photography

2014 has officially come to a close, and oh my goodness...what a year it was!!  16 weddings, 5 events, 4 styled shoots, and oh yeah...my own wedding to boot!!  Here's a recap of what was hands down, the biggest year of my life! January kicked off with a very exciting front page feature on Style Me Pretty, right here.  This was the first shoot of many, with my new friend, Adrian Michael Photography, and it was a stunner.  And the fact that Nick & I got to model, of course made it that much more special.  The rest of the month was spent catching up on a ton of office work, meeting with clients, and pulling together so many details for the seasons coming weddings!

Jesse Holland Photography

Kim Kalyn Photography

In February, I had a blast helping a former FKE Bride, throw a Gatsby inspired birthday soiree!  The night was filled with gold details, great cocktails, and tons of dancing!  Planning for the coming weddings continued, and in an attempt to completely unplug, we spent a weekend over on Salt Spring Island, with some good friends.  We drank lots of wine, ate cheese, and enjoyed pancakes and mimosas for breakfast.  It was heavenly. Also in February, I was thrilled to have this featured on SMP.

Rita Steenssens Photography

Rita Steenssens Photography

This DIY project was featured in March, on one of my favourite blogs, 100 Layer Cake. It also inspired me to get more crafty with my Brides, and to continue growing my love of paper goods, and what they can add to a wedding.

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

Christie Graham Photography

In April, I headed out with a whole crew of wedding vendors, and put together the biggest styled shoot I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of.  The day was incredible, and was one of those ones that really makes you take a step back, and appreciate everything/everyone.  

May-2014-VWM-94-X2

With the arrival of May, was the arrival of wedding season!! Woohoo!! So many wonderful couples, and so much pretty was made this season.  And we started the season off right, by planning (alongside Jesse Holland), the 2nd Victoria Wedding Industry Meetup! It was a total success, and what a fun way to start a busy summer, with a party for everyone!

In June, Nick & I managed to escape away to Seattle for a weekend getaway.  I love Seattle, and always enjoy getting to spend a couple of days eating and drinking. So good.  And then, just a couple of weeks later, I was swept off to Pender Island, for my bachelorette weekend!  Lets just say, the girls in my life know how to completely spoil me!  The month finished off with one of my favourite weddings of the season, a black tie affair, that dripped in elegance.  Amazing!

Jesse Holland Photography

Shane Deringer Photography

Kim Kalyn Photography

Jon Mark Photography

In July, 3 more incredible weddings took place, each one as different as the next.  We got to play with tons of colour, incorporate family traditions, and work with a nautical theme that rocked my world!  A pretty good month if you ask me!

Jesse Holland Photography

AMERIS

In the middle of July, my best friends planned the worlds prettiest Bridal Shower for me (seriously!).  And Nick & I celebrated our 8 year anniversary, by hanging out with these guys, and floating on a lake for our engagement pics.

Christie Graham Photography

Kelly Brown Photography

Centric Photography

August was insane. We had 7 weddings in 5 weeks, and the month flew by! We travelled all over the Island, from Maple Bay to Campbell River, and got to soak in some pretty stellar venues.  The month was capped off with a very special wedding, for 2 Canadian sports icons. It also just so happened to be featured in Hello! Canada.  How cool is that?!!

Kelly Brown Photography

Kelly Brown Photography

In September, another wedding highlight of the season happened.  Set amongst a rose garden, and a true farm to table gathering, this wedding was special.  And later in the month, I did a MASSIVE happy dance, when our Mystic Beach shoot was finally printed in the Fall/Winter issue of Pacific Weddings.  Can you say #careermilestone?!!  

AMERIS

Feeling refreshed, October was finally here!  But before heading off on our trip to get married, we helped plan the 3rd Wedding Meetup, another fabulous night with so many great friends!  Also, I received a very fun box from Real Weddings BC, full of their newest issue, that featured this wedding.  Pinch me now! Then, off on a plane, to the beautiful Island of Maui.  It was truly a trip of a lifetime.  Our wedding was perfect, and getting to spend so much time with our family and friends is something we will never forget.  I can't wait to share all of our wedding photos, but here's a sneak peek to tide you over...

Jesse Holland Photography

We returned to Victoria, halfway through November, this time as newlyweds!  Still on cloud 9, most of this month was spent with a goofy grin on my face, and the desire to talk about my wedding to anyone who would listen.  Amongst this though, I teamed up with some incredible vendors, on another epic shoot!!  This one is a goodie....stay tuned this year to see all the gorgeous details! I also hoped over to Vancouver, for the BC Wedding Awards, and got to celebrate all the talent here on the Island, with great friends!

In the first week of December, I hopped on another plane, and joined Nick in Austin, Texas.  He was there for a work trip, and I was lucky enough to tag along, and soak in all that Austin has to offer!  What a cool city!!  And the BBQ....yummmy!!  Once back in Victoria, it was major catch up time, and starting to think about 2015.  So much goodness is coming up, and I can't wait to see what else this coming year has in store.

xo Barb

Jesse Holland Photography

With Christmas just 3 days away, I am actually feeling (almost) totally prepared!  The stockings are hung, presents are wrapped under the tree, the cards have all been mailed (BIG thanks to Jesse Holland for once again, rocking our annual holiday card pic!), and the fridge is overflowing in preparation for this weeks festivities. 2014 was a big one: Not only did FKE have its biggest year yet (more to come on that next week), but I spent the year being completely spoiled with my own wedding prep and celebrations, and on October 30th, officially became a Mrs.!!  It was truly a year to remember, and I am so incredibly thankful to all of those special people in my life (many of whom are in the wedding industry), who made it so special for me!! This year, as we celebrate our first christmas as a married couple, Nick & I are excited to be hosting Christmas dinner at our house, for the first time ever!  We can't wait to spend the day in the kitchen together, spend lots of time with our family, and to start a new tradition.  So, from our family to yours, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and that your holidays are filled with lots of joy, cheer, and eggnog (preferably spiked lol!).

xo Barb & Nick