We missed last months Currently Inspired by post (we blame this never ending winter), but we are back at it this month with our latest inspirations! Since we are currently knee deep in design plans, what you are seeing below is a reflection of what we have been loving for our 2017 weddings!

Geometric Decor
We are just digging this modern and clean cut decor lately. It is classy and playful at the same time. LOVE!

Source: Ruffled Blog / Sarah Libby Photography

Source: Style Me Pretty / Kim Lyn Photography

Unconventional Dishware
Whether it's ceramics, patterns, or unique textures we are leaning towards dishes that pop these days.

Source: Martha Weddings

Source: Once Wed / Manda Weaver

Stationary from Minted
We are having too much fun checking out the new designs on Minted.com! Peruse for yourself if you want to see all the beauties they have on there. We have worked with Minted product many times and are always blown away by the quality.

Source: Minted

Source: Minted

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AMERIS

It has been a couple of years since our new website was launched, and so figured it was about time to freshen things up a bit around here.  Over the past year, the FKE team has grown to include the lovely and talented Paula (our office & design assistant), basically the sweetest and most driven lady I have met.  Having her join me in the office has been amazing and everyone who meets her loves her as much as we all do!  We have also officially welcomed Nick to the team, who has basically been with us from the beginning (something that happens naturally when married to the owner of a company).  He is an instrumental person when it comes to FKE's growth & vision as well as helping with on site logistics at large events (and even carrying a chair or two).  We are thrilled to have finally convinced him to step in front of the camera.   And then there's Laura....oh Laura...she has been with me since the beginning, and I honestly couldn't imagine FKE without her!  She is our most senior production assistant, and operates as my brain on wedding days.  To say that she's a total rock star would be a major understatement, and it's been so much fun having her involved in some new upcoming projects as well.

AMERIS

We always have so much fun when working with AMERIS, and I can't even begin to tell you how hard it is to keep a straight face when being in front of their camera.  WAY too many laughs were had (is that possible?), and we are all thrilled with the results! I've included a few of my favourite shots below, and then make sure to head over to our About page, to read more about everyone.  The FKE team is like family to me, and I love that I get to spend my days working alongside them! We have a lot of exciting projects and new ventures in the works, none of which would be possible without them.  Thank you so much for following along and helping make this dream of mine a reality! xo

AMERIS

AMERIS

AMERIS

AMERIS

AMERIS

AMERIS

ps - Thank you as well, to my talented friend Elena, who made my hair look as perfect as it did, and also to Club Monaco for my outfit.  White jeans in winter was definitely a risk, but I'd say it was one worthy of taking! lol!

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If you asked me to sum up Heather & Gaven's wedding in one word, it would hands down, without a doubt, have to be FUN!  This beautiful young couple (& their wedding party) was filled with an abundance of energy, and the celebratory mood of the day was not lost on any one of the guests.  The wedding was overflowing with southern charm (Heather hails from Oklahoma) and a west coast ease (Gaven is from Victoria), and highlighted the couples fun loving nature to a tee.  

After meeting in University down in Oklahoma, and falling head over heels in love, Heather & Gaven first met with me in the summer of 2015.   The combination of Hatley Castle & The Beach House for their wedding venues allowed them to have the best of both worlds, Glamour & West Coast beauty, and I loved working with them on designing their dream day.  Heather L O V E S pink, and pretty soon, we realized we had an un-official "50 shades of pink" theme running through the wedding.  Subtle pink ombre touches, through the bridesmaids bouquets, reception tables, and paper goods, made their appearance, and modern elegant touches kept the design feeling sophisticated.  The beautiful images, captured by the wickedly talented Luke Liable, are oozing with the energy that was present that day, and they still put a huge smile on my face!

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of Luke Liable Photography, and video courtesy of Paper Heart Films. 

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Luke Liable Photography
Videography - Paper Heart Films
Ceremony Venue - Hatley Castle
Reception Venue - The Beach House
Floral Design - Verbena Floral Design
Beauty - Erin Bradley
Cake - Passion for Cakes
Ceremony Music - Opus String Trio
DJ - DJ Pro

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We can't believe it's March already! The month that doesn't have a whole lot going for it, except for maybe St. Patrick's Day and the beginning of the Spring season (which we are very, VERY excited about)!  Although it doesn't feel like Spring is anywhere close after the snow we have had recently...  So, in honour of the new month, we thought we would share our latest guilty pleasures (ie. the things that have been non stop on our minds)!

Current Obsession:

Barb: Home Renos

Paula: Dine Around Victoria

Laura: New puppy!!

Beauty Favourites of the Moment:

Barb: Lady Like by Essie

Paula: Anastasia Glow Kit

Laura: Rouge Cream Lipstick

Must See Movies this Month:

Barb: La La Land

Paula: Beauty & The Beast

Laura: Moonlight

And because we can't help ourselves... here's the trailer for the upcoming wedding flick Table 19! Because who doesn't love Anna Kendrick and cheesy wedding movies?

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It has been just over a year now since the launch of our sister company, Heyday Events, and I am STOKED to be finally sharing a bit more about it over here on the blog!  If you are in the wedding industry on Vancouver Island, you may have heard about Heyday, and we are all so appreciative of the amazing support that this wonderful community has given us so far!  I thought it was about time though that I introduced Heyday formally, and shared with you what it is all about!

Photo by: Jesse Holland Photography

Heyday Events is a "Day-of Coordination" specialty company, meaning "day-of" is all that it does, and it does it right!  Day of Coordination is an invaluable planning service that has been around for a long long time, but its title is often very misleading. Day of Coordination is so much more than help on just the day.  A day-of coordinator typically becomes involved in the planning 1-2 months prior, helping the couple tie up any loose ends, put together timelines, and take on final confirmations with the vendors.  It is the perfect service for those couples who are super excited to take on the planning themselves, but don't want to "work" their wedding.  Or, for those couples who really see the value in having a professional on the day, but don't have the budget for a full service planner.  

Photo by: The Best Men

From 2010 - 2015, Day-of Coordination was a service that we offered at FKE, and we loved being able to help couples bring all their hard work and planning to life!  In 2015 I decided to remove this service from FKE and focus solely on a Full Service/luxury planning experience for our couples.  I see such value and importance in a really good Day-Of service though, and wanted to continue to offer that to couples in BC, hence the idea of Heyday was born!  A company that would become known for stellar day-of coordination, and would also be a place for planners to learn, grow and become even more involved in the wedding industry.  The team of "heyday makers" that we have is absolutely incredible, and all of the planners come from a great background in events.  It has been such a pleasure working with them, providing guidance when needed, and seeing them work alongside some wickedly cool couples!  Last season, we tested the waters (success!), and this upcoming wedding season, we are going full force!  We have a lot of awesome weddings lined up for Heyday, and still have some weekends available this summer.  SO.... if you, or someone you know, needs a bit of extra help pulling things together, or is at the point of wedding planning where they realize that yes, it IS a good idea to have a planner, check out Heyday Events, and give the girls a shout!  

Photo by: Sabrina Patrice Photography

Photo by: The Best Men

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Set amongst the old growth forest, and surrounded by their closest family and friends, the wedding of Laura & Joe (back in August 2015) was as lovely as it sounds.  This was our first wedding in this area of the world (have loved returning since!), and getting to work in Squamish at this stunning venue, was an incredible experience!  I've been dying to share it for over a year now, and am stoked to have finally started to catch up on blogging.  Phew! 

When I first started chatting with Laura & Joe, their main priority was finding a modern space surrounded by trees.  The couple lives in Alberta, and so this was a destination wedding for all those involved, and they wanted to showcase the natural beauty that the west coast has to offer.  Now, finding a forest venue, that is NOT rustic, is certainly a challenge, but I was up for it and did many a happy dances when we stumbled upon the Cheakamus Centre in Squamish.  The rest of the planning was an absolute delight, and I loved getting to work alongside the couple on their unique and non-traditional wedding.  My favourite moment has to have been Laura's bouquet: both of her sisters walked her down the aisle, each holding a piece of her bouquet.  Then, during the ceremony, the 2 pieces were joined, signifying the coming together of 2 families.  It was absolutely beautiful, and there wasn't a dry eye in the place!  

There were so many lovely little details all throughout this wedding, and we are still so grateful that this wonderful couple took us on their wedding planning journey!  Enjoy! xo

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of Lauren Kurc Photography.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Lauren Kurc Photography 
Venue & Catering - Cheakamus Centre
Florals - The Flower Factory 
Stationery - Caribou Creative
Furniture Rentals - Bash Specialty 
Hair - Alicia Rollins
Makeup - Reannan Shay Tyson
Music - Trish Jamieson 

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Erich McVey Photography

It's the Family Day Long Weekend up here in BC, and Nick & I have decided to take advantage of the holiday and spend some time unplugging.  We are headed to one of our favourite places, Salt Spring Island, with some great friends, and can't wait to spend the next 3 days reading by the fire (dying to make a dent in Commonwealth), hiking with the dog in the forest, exploring local wineries and cooking a whole lotta good food.  It is one of the only times these days that we manage to completely unplug from work (our accommodation literally has no wifi or cell reception), and I love every minute of it.  Now, I may manage to sneak in a random instagram post depending on how many times we head into "town", so feel free to follow along here ;)  It's incredible how restorative just a few days away can be, and I can't wait!  How do you relax in this crazy, non-stop world of ours?  I am always on the hunt for new tips and tricks, and so please share if you have any! And just for fun, here are a few of the items already packed for our cozy cabin weekend.  xo

1. HBC Bay Blanket.  2. Lux et Terra Candle.  3. Commonwealth.  4. Salt Spring Island Cheese.  5. Husband's for the win!  6. Nomad Coffee Mug.

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We are less than 2 weeks away from Valentines Day, and if you are anything like me, you'll be thinking "who cares"...."it's overrated"...  Honestly, my idea of the perfect Feb 14th is a night spent with lots of takeout and sitting on the couch watching Netflix with the hubby.  BUT...over the holidays, I was on the receiving end of some incredibly thoughtful gift boxes, and I fell head over heels in love with them!  I know that Gift Boxes aren't a new concept, but the most recent surge in popularity of locally inspired boxes has me completely obsessed!  Supporting local companies while treating someone you love?  Yes please!  Some of my favourite peeps have been putting together some incredibly thoughtful boxes, and they are definitely inspiring me to up my Valentines Day game this year.  Here are a few of our fav's, and if you don't live in Victoria, I highly encourage you to source some local ones from your home town! 

Tara McHugh: Valentines Gift Box
$89.95  
+ free local delivery for FKE readers (use code LOVE)

Perfect for:
Your bestie who always looks like her clothes and house belong in an instagram pic, and you love her for it. 

Why we love it: 
Does it get more fem or lovely than this? And every purchase supports creative entrepreneurs, small business and big dreamers.

The Goods: 
Watercolor tea towel by artist Lindsay Remple
 Lavender scented heart soap by Sweet Pure Honey
Hand poured FLORA Woodlot candle
Dried bundle of white statice flowers

Thorn & Thistle: Sweetheart Box
$145.00

Perfect for
That special someone in your life who you want to completely spoil and maybe spend some "alone" time with...*wink wink* 

Why we love it: 
All of the products are organic, and it's the perfect combination of sexy & sweet. (hands up to those who get that reference!)

The Goods: 
A seasonal bouquet
Kismet Pink Himalayan Salt Soak with rose petals
Province Apothecary Sex Oil
Karameller Candies
Lux et Terra Beeswax Candle
 

Vancouver Island Gift Baskets: Breakfast Nook
$135.00

Perfect for: 
Your foodie friend, who spends more time at local coffee shops than bars, and appreciates the stillness of mornings. 

Why we love it: 
Because the caloric count is significantly lower than a chocolate themed gift, and who doesn't love coffee?

The Goods: 
Fernwood Coffee & Galiano Coffee Roasting Co.
Babe's Clover Honey
Denman Island Espresso Chunk Chocolate Bar
Silk Road Tea, Anteeo Tea & Biscotti
RockCoast Sea Salt Toffee Bark, Smoked Canadian Sea Salt &
Saltspring Kitchen Co. Jam

Tara McHugh: Valentines Mini Box
$49.95
+ free local delivery for FKE readers (use code LOVE)

Perfect for:
That friend that deserves a little pick me up just because. 

Why we love it: 
You can't beat the price point, and it is freakin' adorable!

The Goods: 
Wild Hill Botanical's Northwest Forest Soak bath mix
Handcrafted Lavender scented soap by Sweet Pure Honey
Tara McHugh Flora signature tin of Earl grey leafy tea

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Happy February everyone!  The month of L O V E (countdown to V-day is on!), as well as fighting those winter blues.  And what fights the winter blues the best?  Dreams of sunny beaches and warm evenings....*sigh*...   Paula, our lovely office assistant, is currently travelling in Thailand, and so in honour of her travels, and subsequent jealously that has been happening around here because of it, this months guilty pleasures round up is of all things Wanderlust!

Take me away: 

Paula: Thailand

Barb: St. Lucia

Laura: Costa Rica

Happy Hour all day long:

Paula: Margarita on the rocks

Barb: Mojito

Laura: Gin & Tonic

Can't live without travel item:

Paula: Shampoo Bar

Barb: Jaxsea Kimono

Laura: A good book

So, tell us!  Where would you go?  And what item do you have to travel with?  (Paula's Shampoo bars have just raised the bar for making air travel that much easier!! #obsessed)

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Last week, we were "shout it from the roof tops" excited to finally get to share this dreamy elopement from last May, on Grey Likes Weddings!  Oozing in Texan charm, and overflowing with romance, moody florals, and a couple ridiculously in love, this wedding was what a wedding planner's dreams are made of!  

Catherine first reached out to me in the beginning of March, with her vision of a simple and romantic elopement on the west coast.  Based out of Austin, Texas, Catherine & Patricio decided to skip a large wedding (400+) and instead keep the day as authentic to them as possible.  Working with them was seriously a dream, as their impeccable taste and trust in me (thank you C&P!!!), made my job as easy as can be! 

We drew inspiration from the historic setting at The Empress, as well as their love of vintage poetry, to create a warm, intimate and lush space for this very special occasion.  Surrounded by only their closest family (13 guests total), the days focus was on the coming together of the 2 families, and the celebration of the new adventure that they were about to embark on.  The details throughout were filled with beauty, and perfectly curated to represent their love for one another, and the darker colour palette of marsala, peach, rose & garnet, suited The Library room beautifully.  Music, an incredibly important part of both families, played a central role.  And just before dinner, the Eryn Sharpe Trio entertained the guests, while they all danced, laughed and celebrated the newlyweds!  It was truly magical to witness!!

And the florals...can we just stop for a second and talk about those florals?  Verbena Floral Design absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one!  The mantle place was the focal point of the entire design concept, and my jaw still hits the floor whenever I look at it! Both Best Bouquet & Best Overall Florals at the BC Wedding Awards were awarded to this wedding, and we couldn't agree more!  I could seriously go on for days and days about this wedding, but I think I'll let the beautiful images do the rest....enjoy. xo

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of Taylor Roades.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Taylor Roades Photography
Videography - Paper Heart Films
Floral Design - Verbena Floral Design 
Venue/Catering - The Fairmont Empress
Hair/Makeup - Erin Bradley
Paper Goods - Caribou Creative
Rentals - White Events Studio
Ceremony Music - Opus String Trio
Reception Music - Eryn Sharpe Trio

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• Office Talk 55
• Planning Tips 13
• Real Weddings 48