Happy Holidays 2019

Here we are again…another year has gone by and we are just days away from Christmas. While it’s safe to say that this was not the year of blogging for me (#oops), this was an incredible year for both our family and FKE. I can’t wait to recap it all in the annual Year in Review blog post (coming in early January)! The next few days though are all about the holidays, celebrating with loved ones, and getting cozy AF just in time for Santa! Maddie has been delighting in all that the holidays have to bring over the last few weeks, and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing her ask to go see more Christmas Lights. And the fact that she turns 2 a couple days before Christmas? My mind doesn’t even know how to process that lol!

So to keep things quick (so you can all get back to eating more cookies and listening to Bing Crosby, as I am doing right now), thank you so so much to everyone who made 2019 so wonderful. To Nick (that handsome man next to me in the pic above), our parents, close friends and my incredible incredible team: I honesty don’t know what life would look like without all of you (nor do I want to know). To all of our couples (past and future): I thank my lucky stars every day that you entrust us with your wedding. It means more than you know, and I am grateful for life! I hope everyone out there has the most wonderful holiday season!

xo
Barb

Office TalkBarb WalkerDecember 20, 2019victoria wedding plannerComment

Real Wedding: Mandy & Andrew

It’s been just under a year since I blogged and about a year and a half since this wedding, but it’s never too late right?! I blame life. As we are settling into the quieter season though, I’m finding I have some spare time to put into blogging, and I am excited about it! I couldn’t think of a better wedding to end the drought than Mandy & Andrew’s Napa Valley soiree! And yes….I said Napa Valley! Back in the Spring of 2018, I got to check off a HUGE bucket list item and head down to California to plan this gorgeous vineyard wedding.

When Mandy & Andrew, good friends of mine here in Victoria, first asked me if I would plan their wedding, I obviously got excited. But then when they told me they were thinking Napa, and would I consider heading down to Napa with them? Well, let’s just say I don’t think I’ve ever said YES faster haha! These guys love to travel, have a taste for the finer things in life, and also love to throw a very very good party. The venue was the top priority, and we were all beyond thrilled to find the historic Charles Krug Winery. One of the oldest wineries in Napa and one of the only actual wineries to host weddings in the valley. It was absolutely perfect. The team of vendors we assembled down there were all incredible and I am just crossing my fingers and toes that I get another chance to head back down there for more weddings! Planning a wedding in another country is no joke people, but it was an experience I absolutely loved, will never forget, and I am so glad it was with such a special couple.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Mandy & Andrew, for having me be a part of this amazing time in your life, and I hope everyone enjoys a small glimpse into this amazing day below!

**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 Dawn Heumann Photography.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Venue - Charles Krug Winery
Photography - Dawn Heumann Photography
Catering - Feast Catering
Florals - Tango & Foxtrot
Rentals - La Tavola & Encore Event Rentals
Beauty - Bella Bridal Napa Valley
Welcome Sign & Place Cards - XM Calligraphy
DJ - Modern Maestro

And then here’s a little something for all of your pure enjoyment. Ladies & Gents….I give you the men behind FKE fully embracing BSB.

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerNovember 20, 2019victoria wedding planning, Napa Wedding, napa wedding planner, Charles Krug Winery Wedding, Charles Krug Winery, Tango and Foxtrot Florals, Dawn Heumann Photography, Winery wedding, Destination wedding planner, destination weddingComment

Year in Review: 2018

One of my favourite posts to write is these Year in Reviews. Not only are they a fun look down memory lane, but they always put things in perspective and make me realize how much good can happen in a year. While 2017 was a year of immense change, 2018 was a year of incredible growth for me personally and all about finding balance. It was an incredible year, and one that gives me all the warm fuzzy feelings. Nick & I were talking over the holidays about the past year, and realizing that it was going to go down for us as one of the best. We settled into our role as parents, loving Maddie more than we knew possible, travelled a TON (hello California, France & Hawaii!) and I managed to knock out 8 incredible weddings with a baby by my side. Of course, there were a lot (and I mean a lot) of tears along the way, some frustrating moments and a lot of trial and error when it came to figuring out how to run 2 businesses with a child, but I like to focus on the positive ;) Like I said, it was an amazing year, and one that I will be grateful of for the rest of my life.

As most of you know, January started off cozy at home, with a week old baby. We spent a few blissful weeks getting to know one another, having lots of visits from friends & family, and soaking up as much baby as possible. Our friends Rob & Julia of AMERIS treated us to the most special newborn session, and Chelsea of Paper Heart Films put together the loveliest little film. In the middle of the month, I returned to work with our first event post baby: the Cosmedica 20 Year celebration! At the end of January, we took off with friends to Salt Spring Island for our annual weekend of cozy fires, board games and wine & cheese. It was the perfect first getaway with Maddie.

February and March were spent in full planning mode for the season of weddings quickly approaching. The amazing Paula helped to keep French Kiss & Heyday running smoothly, and I loved getting to meet with clients, finish design plans and you know…cuddle the baby (what a shock lol!). At the end of March, another Gulf Island getaway took place, this time to Mayne Island. It was my first time on Mayne, and oh man, does that spot ever have some gorgeous hikes!

In April, Maddie & I followed Nick down on a work trip to Del Mar, California. This is a little beach town, just north of San Diego, and we all fell in LOVE! We are already trying to figure out how we can escape there again! Once back, it was full on planning mode for a gorgeous styled shoot we helped to organize, with the insanely talented Lushana Bale. We were treated to the most perfect Spring day, and loved seeing the shoot published on Wedding Sparrow in July! Also in April was our first wedding of 2018! Woohoo!! It was an amazing day, and one that I honestly wish could be repeated every year ;) A brunch wedding followed by epic house party at night? Sign me up!

In May, we headed down to California again, but this time for a Napa wedding! This was our first wedding in California, and oh man….working in the wine capital of the US was a dream come true! I have so much love for this very special couple that trusted me with their vision and it was so wonderful getting to work with so many awesome vendors down there! If anyone wants to bring me back to Napa, I’m available! Just saying ;)

In June, we took some family time (which NEVER happens in the summer, so this was a big win!) and headed to France for 2 weeks. I had always dreamed of doing a big trip with Maddie before she got too mobile, and this was the most magical 2 weeks. France stole my heart, and I honestly can’t even begin to say what my favourite part was. We went up the Eiffel Tower at night, ate baguettes and cheese in the park, toured castles, and drank a lot of rosé. We also snuck in a family session with the talented Gaëtan in Nice, and I will treasure these photos forever.

Once back in town, it was full blown wedding season! We got to frolic with animals at Birds Eye Cove, experienced the hottest day of the summer up at Shawnigan Lake, and set a modern seaside lunch for just the sweetest couple. I was also floored (and so honoured!) to have been included again on Vogue’s list of the Top Wedding Planners. Talk about a pinch me moment!

Over the August long weekend, we had the privilege of being a part of an epic 3 day celebration, for 300+ guests! This wedding was all my colour dreams come to life, the most insane florals, and music like no other (yup! Colin James played at this wedding! #superfanmoment) .

The last big wedding of the year took place mid-August, for just about the loveliest couple you will ever meet, and had some of my favourite people coming together to create some serious magic. Following the craziness of the last 7 weeks, Nick & I escaped with the fam to check out the new Bodega Cove Retreat on Galiano Island and returned feeling refreshed and ready for the 2nd half of the year!

Photography: Christine Pienaar Photography

September brought some stormy weather, a beautiful and intimate wedding, and a whole lot of catching up on life. After Thanksgiving, we did what we always do in October, and hopped on a plane and flew to Maui, our favourite spot on earth. This was our first time taking Maddie there, and seeing how much she loved the beach and water made my heart swell big time! We ate a lot of incredible food, hung out with our Island friends and my parents, and just truly relaxed.

Back in Victoria for the rest of the year, we finally settled into a bit more of a work/baby routine, caught up with friends, and got ourselves ready for a busy December. Let’s just say that between the holidays and Maddie’s 1st birthday (cue the tears!), it was a busy end to an incredible year. On Christmas Eve, I was thrilled to have a summer 2017 wedding featured on Wedding Chicks, and by the time 2019 arrived, full blown planning mode has taken over life. Just the way I like it ;) Phew! What a year, right?!! I am so grateful for everything that took place over the last 12 months, and also to all of you for continuing to follow along! Here’s to another incredible year!

Office TalkBarb WalkerJanuary 25, 2019victoria wedding planning, wedding plannerComment

Real Wedding: Sabrina & Dylan

Happy New Year everyone! What a blur the holidays were, eh?! We spent lots of time with family and friends relaxing, and may have overindulged once (or twice) on some delicious wine and savoury treats… but that’s what the holidays are for, right?! I’m currently working on my annual end of year blog post, which should be live next week (stay tuned), but I wanted to kick the new year off with a very happy, bright and fresh wedding from Summer 2017! I did a MAJOR happy dance on Christmas Eve when it was published over on Wedding Chicks (check it out here!), and just loved getting to relive this day through the images below.

Sabrina & Dylan’s wedding took place in the middle of August, at the gorgeous Affinity Guesthouse property. And guys. This wedding was so. much. fun! I can’t remember ever seeing a Bride so relaxed and ready to party on her wedding day! Both Sabrina & Dylan had a smile from ear to ear all day long, and the entire wedding was filled with so many heartwarming moments. Planning began about a year and half in advance (it is never too early to start planning everyone!) , and their main goal was to throw the biggest party of the summer. Mission accomplished. Through the cheerful palette, lawn games, insane boho lounge, family style feast (thanks Toque Catering!) and The County Line band, guests felt comfortable and “at home” all day long. The Bride, who has a very bohemian style, wanted to make sure that her personal style was infused throughout the elegant setting. Moroccan lanterns and persian rugs lined the ceremony aisle, and the couple shared their vows on a Moroccan wedding blanket. We fully raped the tent and added twinkle lights above. Bright and happy florals, designed by FLEURtacious, lined the 4 long-long tables, and fresh lavender was placed on each place setting.

One of the most fun moments of the night happened right before the band took over: Sabrina surprised Dylan by switching her wedding skirt for a full tiered skirt. It was PERFECT for the dance floor, so definitely make sure to check out those photos below as well! This was just such a fun day filled with so much joy, and I am so grateful to have had a chance to work with this lovely couple!

**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 Blush Wedding Photography.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Blush Photography
Venue - Affinity Guesthouse
Catering - Toque Catering
Florals - FLEURtacious
Band - The County Line
Decor rentals - Trend Decor
Lounge - Bash Specialty
Tent & rentals - Black & White
Stationery - Emma Allen
Makeup - Melanie Baird

Happy Holidays 2018

Well folks, the anticipation for the big guy to come down the chimney is at an all time high around here! Christmas is just a few short sleeps away, and I for one am very excited. While technically this will be Maddie’s 2nd Christmas, she was only 2 days old last year, so I’m not really sure if that counts ha! This year, instead of being in a hospital, I can’t wait to spend the next few days surrounded by family and friends, over indulging on food & drink, and watching Maddie delight in the many twinkle lights and wrapping paper that is sure to come her way.

This year, for many many reasons, has been an incredibly special one. I always love looking back at the year during my annual review (coming early January) so for now, I want to just say thank you to each and every one of you who has made this year so amazing for me! Learning (who am I kidding…I’m still figuring it out!) how to balance being a Mom and run 2 businesses has had more challenges than I can count, but also that many rewards. Thank you to Nick for being the most adoring father and supportive husband. Thank you to both sets of our parents for the literally hundreds of hours of child care you have provided. Thank you to my kick ass team who absolutely slayed it this year (while putting up with a leader whose brain worked at half function most of the time). And thank you to all of the AMAZING clients who we had the honour of working with and whose support over this past year has me grinning from ear to ear. I hope everyone has an incredible holiday season, a very Merry Christmas, and here’s to a wicked new year!

xo
Barb

Office TalkBarb WalkerDecember 21, 2018Comment

Real Wedding: Monica & Cliff

Buckle in for a true west coast beauty folks: Monica & Cliff, a Vancouver based power couple, got married on a beautiful summers day, on a the gorgeous Thetis Island, surrounded by their closest family and friends. The day was filled with so much joy and the couple seriously couldn't stop smiling all day! These guys….I just love them to death…. but I digress. haha! Overbury Resort, located on the small Thetis Island, was the host of their entire wedding festivities, including a welcome BBQ held on the Friday. Monica spent many summers as a kid at Overbury Resort with her family, and so when they became engaged, it was the only place in the world that she wanted to get married. It took Cliff a bit of convincing, as he is a city boy through and through, but after seeing the property and what a magical spot it was, he was sold (with the promise that it wouldn't be a rustic wedding and that there would be charger plates!). In the end, the day was a relaxed yet elegant celebration, and was the perfect blend of the couple.

For the design, it was pretty easy to take inspiration from the grogeous west coast and natural elements at the venue (that view!). We decided to infuse a few soft pops of colour through the florals and fruit to add some depth to the design. Peach, Blush & Apricot, along with whites and greens brought life to the space and made this summery soiree feel fresh. Monica is a nutritionalist, and so it was really important to her that everything at the wedding was fresh and as local as possible. Many of the florals were grown locally on Vancouver Island, and we created a farmers market inspired seating chart with locally grown BC peaches for every guest! Probably my favourite seating chart to date.

One of the most emotional parts of the day was the ceremony. It was performed by Monica's brother, and he managed to make sure that there wasn't a dry eye there! Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed canapés, lawn games, and live music by the extremely talented Colin Bullock. After dinner, Colin was joined by a friend of the couples, and the duo performed the most beautiful rendition of Bob Dylan's "Make you feel my love". It was seriously magical! Guests danced into the night, soaked up the warm evening around the bonfire, and even toasted s'mores at the s'more station. It was the perfect Island wedding!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Monica & Cliff, for having me be a part of this incredibly special day! The photos from The Nickersons capture the essence of the weekend perfectly, and I hope you all enjoy!

**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 The Nickersons.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - The Nickersons
Venue & Catering - Overbury Resort
Florals - Overbury Resort & Cartref Gardens
Music - Colin Bullock
Hair - Nadia Bullock
Makeup - Grist Artistry
Stationery - Emma Allen Design

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerDecember 14, 2018victoria wedding planning, wedding planner, thetis island wedding, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, gulf island weddings, overbury resort, The Nickersons, Colin Bullock, outdoor wedding, West Coast wedding inspirationComment

Real Wedding: Courtney & Richard

I have a slew of 2017 weddings in the blog queue, and I am just SO happy to have finally had the time to get to blog them! It has been well over a year (dear lord! lol!) and so it is definitely about time. First up, is the September 2017 wedding of Courtney & Richard, and let’s just say it was fit for a castle. I had such a blast working with these guys, and set against the majestic backdrop of Hatley Castle, how could you go wrong?! Everything we did was done to elevate the overall guest experience. Luxurious details and finishings, over the top floral arrangements, luxurious linens, and a gourmet 4 course dinner. The couple opted for a classic palette of White, Grey, Blush & Green, which suited the venue perfectly. Abundant florals were used to enhance the romance of the Castle, and greenery was used as a focal point in the reception, to bring the outside in via drama!

The couple, both of whom are pilots, also wanted to have a bit of wanderlust incorporated throughout the wedding. Custom paper airplane escort cards were hand calligraphered, and the cake featured intricate detail playing homage to their careers (so fun!). With Hatley Castle being the venue, we knew everything we did had to be elegant, luxurious and chic. The ceremony took place in the Croquet Lawn, with a stunning view of the Castle in the backdrop. Because they had a higher guest count though, their reception had to take place outside of the Castle, in a Banquet room on site. We completely transformed the room by having it fully draped in white shear panels. This was quite the undertaking, and over 260 ft. of drape was installed. Insane! And a big shoutout to Sandy and the team at Decorate Victoria for making it happen!

This was truly such an elegant affair, and the photos, by Luke Liable feel like they are something out of Vogue. So, without further adieu, I give you: Courtney & Richard.

**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.

Planning & Design - French Kiss Events
Venue - Hatley Castle
Photography - Luke Liable
Catering - Truffles Catering
Florals - Thorn & Thistle
Hair - Hunt and Gather, Mandy Rogers
Makeup - Prive Beauty Lounge
Cake - Schur to Please
Ceremony Music - Cascadia Quartet
Reception DJ - DJ Pro
Invitation suite - Love by Phoebe
Drapery - Decorate Victoria
Furniture - Bash Specialty
Linens - Faire la Fete

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerDecember 3, 2018victoria wedding planning, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Event Planning, Hatley Castle, luke liable photography, Thorn & Thistle, Truffles Catering, castle wedding, castle wedding inspiration, ballroom wedding, garden wedding, wedding design, wedding designer Comments

Real Wedding: Alexei & Bob

I often find myself stumped for ways to start these posts, as I worry that I come off repetitive. I seem to always be saying how special the wedding was, how gorgeously it all came together etc. etc. But the truth is, EVERY wedding I am a part of is special! One of the things I love most about doing what I do, and the boutique nature of FKE, is that I get to know my couples so intimately. So by the time of the wedding, I usually feel like one of the family (you know…like that second cousin you only see at really important events, but knows how to boss everyone around when the time is right haha!). It makes me fall head over heels in love with my job every.single.time., and is the reason why every wedding is so incredible to me! But this one guys…this one you can feel it in the photos (thanks to the genius of Taylor Roades). The day was filled with so much laughter and joy, and a whole lotta love.

When I first met Alexei & Bob, I instantly fell in love and knew I had to work with them (thanks guys for hiring me!). Their love for each other was obvious from the first second, but they also were hilarious, talked about a mile a minute, and knew exactly what they wanted. Alexei is originally from France, and Bob is from the Praries. They met in Quebec while both at school, and the rest is history as they say. The coming together of their 2 families was at the core of this very authentic, relaxed and elegant al fresco soiree.

The design was inspired by the gorgeous gardens of The English Inn and its classic tudor building, and we made sure to keep a masculine undertone and “harmonious chaos” throughout. We designed all the spaces to flow naturally from one into another, and the unique palette of purples, greys & oranges mixed together with organic elements, helped to keep the spaces feeling perfectly unkept.

But what this wedding was really all about (other than the couple…doh!) was the food. Oh the food. It was non stop flowing all throughout the night, and Toque Catering absolutely hit this one out of the park. The family style feast, set at those 2 gorgeous long tables, combined both the Parisian and Prairie influences. Picture a meal that is never ending, with platters of charcuterie, gourmet cheeses, farm fresh veggies & flavourful mains. Guests drank copious amounts of wine, shared lots of stories and partied the night away. It was perfection. But if you don’t believe me, scroll through the photos to see for yourself. 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 Photography.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Taylor Roades Photography
Venue - The English Inn
Catering - Toque Catering
Florals - Verbena Floral Design
Cakes - Ruth & Dean
Garden Duo - Simone & The Good Intentions
Band - The New Souls
Lounge Furniture - Bash Specialty
Tent & Rentals - Black & White Event Rentals, Pedersens, Party Mood
Beauty - Karley Reynolds & Cristina Woods

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerSeptember 11, 2018victoria wedding planning, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, garden wedding, garden party, Verbena Floral Design, Toque Catering, Ruth and Dean, Bash Specialty, long table dinner, family style feast, wedding design, wedding ceremony, same sex wedding, same sex wedding designComment

Real Wedding: Betsy & Ryan

Let's talk about the importance of having a really, truly, fun wedding, shall we? That was the goal from the start for Betsy & Ryan, and we had a blast doing so! Now don't get me wrong...we also set out to have a gorgeous wedding filled with metallics, geometric splashes, and a whole lotta marble; all of which we also totally succeeded at, if I do say so myself. Set at the gorgeous Affinity Guesthouse property (one of my favs!), the couple, their family and close friends, spent the day playing games, eating delicious food (thanks Toque!), dancing the night away, and even singing a song (or 2). It was perfect.

We were also completely tickled to see that Wedding Bells loved this wedding as much as we did, and featured it back in May. You can check it all out here!. And so, without further adieu, here is Betsy & Ryan. aka: #finallylynch.

**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 Amee Nijjar Photography.

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Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Amee Nijjar Photography
Videography - Kismet Creative
Venue - Affinity Guesthouse
Caterer - Toque Catering
Florals - Verbena Floral Design and Thorn & Thistle
Lounge - Bash Specialty
Linens - Faire la Fete
DJ - DJ Pro
Hair - Hairpins
Makeup - Artistry by Alexa

Office Talk: Edition 19

We are so lucky as wedding planners to get to eat some amazing meals from the top caterers around! As the major foodies that we are, we love summer time al fresco dining and thought we could take this opportunity to discuss some of our favourite indulgences lately...

Favourite Rosé