I don't know about you guys, but I love a good cocktail. Nick & I have been serious cocktail lovers for years now, and even ensured that at our own wedding, the cocktails got as much attention as the rest of the decor (proof: here).  So when Cahoots, a "small-batch" simple syrup company based out of Vancouver, got in touch with us, we jumped at the chance to try out their products!  

I love that all of their syrups can be used to instantly elevate a drink, and when used while hosting (either at your home or large scale event), help to avoid all the mess & extra work that is normally involved when mixing drinks. Their site has a ton of fun cocktail recipes, with some of my favourite being the Lavender Gin Sour and the Aged Rum Old Fashioned.

One of the recipes that they sent over to us was the Cahoots Lavender Mojito.  Nothing sounded more refreshing, and so we did the tough task of trying it out....tough day at the office, right?! lol!  And I swear I'm not lying when I say that for this particular round, the drinks were made sans liquor.

Cahoots Lavender Mojito

2oz White Rum
3/4oz Cahoots Lavender
Half Lemon
Handful of Mint
Soda
Crushed Ice

Slice lemon into quarters and muddle in a shaker. Add the remaining ingredients with a small handful of crushed ice and shake gently just to incorporate. Pour ingredients into a double highball glass, fill with crushed ice, top with soda and garnish with a mint bouquet and/or lavender flower.

The cocktail itself was incredibly easy to make!  The Lavender Simple Syrup added a lovely light sweetness to the drink, and I completely devoured it (#noregrets).  Such a great way to elevate the average Mojito, and definitely a drink that we will be making regularly around here!  

So often at weddings, couples chose to offer signature drinks, and I honestly love how easy these syrups make that (and the bottles would definitely elevate the styling of the bar! lol!).  Thank you so much Cahoots, for introducing us to your products, and we highly recommend hoping over to their site to see where you can buy some yourself.  

Cheers!

• FKE Featured 24
• FKE Living 7
• Office Talk 55
• Planning Tips 13
• Real Weddings 48

Happy Friday everyone!!!  It's been a ridiculously cold week here in Victoria, but the weather man says that this cold spell we've been having is about to end (sort of...), and so I've decided that is worth celebrating with a cocktail tonight!  Since the new year, we have been full on design mode, and 2017 inspiration has been oozing out from everywhere. Some new trends are definitely appearing, and we are finding ourselves drawn to some new things, which is always fun.  Here are just a few of the things that are currently inspiring us.

Patterned Napkins
Textiles are a beautiful way to add personality to a tablescape, and a patterned napkin feels fresh and unexpected.  

Source: BRIDES

Source: Style Me Pretty

Modern Bouquets
We are still as obsessed as ever with organic styled bouquets, but these modern, clean lined and elegant bouquets had us at hello.  Sophistication at its best.

Source: Hey Gorgeous Events

Source: Style Me Pretty

Blue
Pantone may have dubbed green the colour of the year (which we will not argue with), but one hue has become a stand out for our 2017 weddings: Blue.  It's everywhere, and whether via textiles, glassware, or styling accents, we can't get enough!

Source: Style Me Pretty

Source: MODwedding

• FKE Featured 24
• FKE Living 7
• Office Talk 55
• Planning Tips 13
• Real Weddings 48

Jenna & Tristan

Cheers to the new year!  Another year has come to an end, and to be honest, I think I'm ok with it.  Don't get me wrong: it was another fantastic year, and I feel seriously blessed to have the life that I do!  I get to share it with an incredible man, and am surrounded by a truly inspiring tribe.  But, 2016 was filled with both highs and low's for me.  It was a year of wedding's that will top my list for years to come, but also a year of working myself to pure exhaustion, and enduring some personal struggles that I am still recovering from.  12 months is a long time, and a lot of things can happen;  It's been quite the journey, and I am really looking forward to reflecting back on it all.  We tackled 15 weddings, 7 events, and made it onto Vogue (eek!).  We got to work with some of the industries best, and started to spread our wings a bit further beyond this lovely Island of ours.  We launched a sister company to FKE, Heyday Events, and started to focus more on nurturing and training of young planners.  These year end reviews can put so much into perspective and I am so grateful to have you follow along!

I kicked the year off with a mission to be the healthiest version of myself possible.  I joined a half marathon run clinic, and instantly loved the connections that I made through the running community.  Planning for the upcoming weddings was going at full tilt, and the rest of January was spent doing what basically everyone does in January: a whole lotta nothing.  

Erich McVey Photography

In February, we managed to sneak away to one of my favourite places, Salt Spring Island, for a relaxing weekend with good friends.  I was also completely floored and incredibly honoured to be included on this list by Vogue, of the world's top wedding planners.  Talk about a pinch me moment! And I loved seeing this wedding featured on Wedding Chicks!

Jon Mark Photo

We celebrated everyone in the Victoria's Wedding industry in March, with another Meetup party!  And I was seriously stoked to see our Taylor Swift shoot from last year, featured on Inspired by This here and here.  At the end of the month, we took off to the beautiful Galiano Island and enjoyed a magical weekend at Bodega Ridge with friends over Easter.  If you take anything from this blog post, let it be this: go to Galiano Island immediately!  

Lillie Louise Photography

April saw the start of the wedding season, and the first one was definitely a good one!  We also teamed up with a slew of talented vendors to host a Farmed and Foraged dinner, in support of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.  It was a beautiful night, and a meal I will surely not forget! Mid month, I took off down to Seattle for a weekend with Bash Specialty, to shop and hang with some other fabulous industry ladies.  

Kim Kalyn Photography

We were hired to plan a ridiculously romantic proposal (she said yes!).  And the month was finished off with a very special 1st birthday party we planned for one of our best friends daughter.  I mean, if you can't celebrate the big milestones like turning 1, what can you celebrate?

Taylor Roades Photography

In May, we worked on an insanely gorgeous elopement, for some insanely wonderful Texans!  More of that to come in the new year...  We married a doctor & a runner, and I completed the Oak Bay Half Marathon as well!  Fitness goal achieved.  Phew! We also had our first ever Heyday Events wedding!  Paula, one of our fabulous planners, knocked it out of the park!

Erich McVey Photography

The Nickersons

The Nickersons

June is when the season really started to take off, and thus began the most intense 6 weeks of my career.  Before things got really crazy though, I helped completely surprise this lovely lady on her 30th birthday, and indulged in a night of charcuterie and wine.  Then, we went from Victoria's inner harbour, to Pemberton's mountains, to Salt Spring's coast, to Hatley Castle, to a sprawling field, and back to Hatley Castle, all in the matter of 6 weeks.  Man, I'm tired just thinking about it.  Amongst all that crazinesses though, were some pretty incredible weddings, and ones that I am beyond honoured to have been a part of.  We got to work with the insanely talented Erich McVey on one (another pinch me moment!) and witness love like we've never seen before.  I can't wait to share ALL of them with you in the new year!

Luke Liable Photography

Shane Deringer Photography 

EA Photo

In August, Nick & I managed to escape to Ottawa for a weekend and spend some QT time with some very good friends.  The rest of the summer was a beautiful whirlwind, and filled with a whole lotta pretty!  We got to bounce around a ton of different venues, and loved spending time with every single one of our couples.  

Jenna & Tristan

Sambajoy

In September, we finished the season off with a couple more gems.  I then spent a week in Alberta visiting my brother and my 2 nephews.  They made my heart melt every. friggin. day.

Wendy Laurel Photography

October was spent in total recovery mode, and getting ready to escape to the sun, as we always do at this time of the year.  We spent 3 magical weeks in Hawaii, splitting our time between Oahu and Maui.  This years trip couldn't have come at a better time for us, and it was the perfect way to recharge.  Spending an afternoon with photographer superstar, Wendy Laurel, was a highlight for me, as well as celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary!  

The return to reality brought on a slew of meetings in November, and left me feeling ridiculously excited for all our 2017 couples!  As the holiday's quickly approached, I focused on spending as many relaxing nights cuddled by the fire, and preparing for Christmas.  On Dec 15th, on the eve of my 30th Birthday (#flirtythirties), I was given the ultimate surprise.  My amazingingly incredible husband, planned a surprise weekend in LA for me with some good friends!  I don't think I can ever complain about him ever again! haha!  It was the perfect way to ring in a new decade, and to reflect back on the year that was.  

Wendy Laurel Photography

This month the festive parties and snow are definitely inspiring our admiration for luxurious textiles and dreaming of far away tropical places. Without further ado here are this month's currently inspired by items.

Velvet Textiles
I am loving this timeless classic lately. Velvet is such a subtle texture, but makes a bold impact and dresses up any room.

Source: The Decorista

Source: Southern Weddings

Minimalist Signage
Sometimes less is more! And I am digging this simple and modern look on signage.

Source: Nouba

Source: mywedding

Tropical Eclectic
So, this one may have to do with our undying love of Hawaii, or the fact that we’ve been hit with a winter blast the past couple of weeks that is super rare.  Either way, the eclectic surfer/tropical design vibes have been hitting me hard lately.

Source: Wedding Chicks

Source: My Domaine

The Rainbow Effect
If done properly this look is so stunning! Whether it's as simple as multicoloured glassware or as bold as different chair colours, we are loving this effect (not to mention the velvet chairs here too...) 

Source: 100 Layer Cake

Source: Wedding Chicks

What do you do when you want to have a destination wedding, but don't feel like making your guests leave the country?  You head to Victoria and host an unforgettable weekend at a beautiful hotel in the Inner Harbour, and treat your guests to ocean views all night long.  Well, that's at least what Edmonton based Brittany & Kyle decided to do, and oh, am I glad that they did!  After our first Skype call, I knew that I was going to have fun working with these guys!  Their sense of fashion was impeccable, colour preferences were right up my alley (hello jewel toned purple, blue & gold!), and their desire to have an elegant wedding that focused on the party?  Yes please!  These guys were rad, and I couldn't be happier to have them forever part of the FKE family. 

The wedding itself was a stunner.  Set at the Inn at Laurel Point, we found the perfect balance between soft/romantic touches and fun/modern details, such as a polka dot motif and custom cocktail napkins.  Keeping the focus on the overall guest experience and lively atmosphere, great cocktails and food, as well as ambiance and seating vignettes were available all through the night.  Music played a really big role in the celebration, and helped us transition the overall atmosphere as the night went along.  A DJ & Sax combo got everyone dancing, and the good folks at Four Frames kept the guests striking a pose.  An epic night of partying, and one that we are so glad we were a part of!

**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 Ophelia Photography.

Planning & Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Ophelia Photography
Venue - Inn at Laurel Point
Florals - FLEURtacious by Lynda Marie
Hair - Conscious Hair
Makeup - Erin Bradley
Music - Girl on Wax
Rentals - Decorate Victoria
Furniture Lounge - Bash Specialty

Things are starting to get very festive around the FKE office! We may or may not be distracted by picking out our favourite holiday Spotify playlists, and chatting about the best Christmas movies... But don't worry, we still manage to get work done! All of this chit chat though, inspired us to create a monthly blog post of our favourite things of the moment! 

On Our Playlists:

Barb's obsession

Paula's pick

Laura's fav

Favourites on the Re-watch List 

Paula's fav

Barb's winner

Laura's pick

Festive Cocktails of Choice

Bailey's & Coffee for Laura

White Russian for Barb

Rum & Eggnog for Paula

What are your current favs? Leave a comment below!
xo Paula

ps - is anyone else as obsessed with this video as we are?

We are constantly being inspired by new (and old) trends and love seeing how we can inspire our couples to incorporate some of them into their wedding design.  Weddings live in this constantly evolving design world, and it is so much fun keeping up, and hopefully ahead, of the trends.  So, with that in mind, I'd like to start something new around here.  A monthly series showcasing what is currently inspiring us, new and old.  

Pops of Bright Colour:
I LOVE how colour has been making a slow come back, and think that by infusing a few pops of colour into a neutral palette, or going all out colour, is a great way to keep your wedding palette feeling fresh. 

Source: Pinterest

Source: Style Me Pretty

Sleeved wedding gowns:
Ok.  So not so new of an idea, but lately I can't seem to get enough of them!  I mean, seriously...

Source: Magnolia Rouge

Source: Instagram @byarantxasandua

Modern place settings:
Last year was a year of specialty cutlery, layers upon layers of plates and romantic place setting details.  And don't get me wrong, I am still head over heels in love with all that.  But lately, I have been really drawn towards a more modern, clean place setting.  It feels fresh yet classic.

Source: Style Me Pretty

Source: Ruffled

Statement Seating Charts: 
With some advance planning and a large imagination, there are some wickedly cool ways to tell your guests where to sit.  For 2017, I am thinking it is going to be all about the bigger the better!

Source: 100 Layer Cake

Source: Style Me Pretty

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

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Well, isn't THIS exciting?!!  Shannon & Steve's spring time wedding, was featured in the Fall/Winter 2014 issue of Real Weddings BC, and I couldn't think of a cooler wedding to have grace the pages of this fabulous publication! Their wedding was filled with lovely little details, delicious food, and a setting as unique as they are.  So much heart was put into their big day, and it puts the biggest smile on my face, knowing that so many people will get a glimpse at their wedding in the magazine.  If you haven't done so already, definitely make sure to pick up your copy of the magazine next time you're out, and have a read below to see some of my favourite moments of the day.

I still remember getting my first email from this couple, asking me if I was available to help them plan their wedding that they were hosting at a Lawn Bowling Club here in Victoria.  I was completely intrigued of course, and after meeting them in person, hearing their love story (they met at this exact club as kids), and their vision for their wedding, I was in!

Being lawn bowlers themselves, the ceremony was set on the lawn, with the aisle made out of the bowls; and their new marriage was made official, with their "first bowl". To keep the budget in check, and to honour Shannon's love of tea, the wedding was an afternoon tea party!  Beautiful vintage china was used, small bites, and delicious treats were served, along with various types of tea and iced tea for the guests to enjoy throughout the day.   Following the reception, the guests gathered around the lawn, performing a "spider", and celebrated the newlyweds over many spirited games.  So many lovely details were put into this wedding, and I loved every minute of helping plan with Shannon & Steve.  Thank you so much to this wonderful couple, for asking me to a part of your day!  It was truly one I will never forget!

And an incredible team of vendors helped make this day as magical as it was!  Thank you so much to:

Photography: Taylor Roades Photography Planning/Decor: French Kiss Events Florals: Cartref Gardens Catering: Toque Catering Vintage Rentals: Simply Sunday Vintage Rentals Beauty: Sigma Squared

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

Taylor Roades Photography

What a way to start the day!!!  I am beyond

thrilled

to have Kristy & Matt's intimate barn wedding, featured today, on

100 Layer Cake

!!  This wedding was unique in so many wonderful ways and I can't think of a better place to be able to share it!  Thank you so much to

Ameris

for capturing it so perfectly, and also to all the other fabulous vendors that came together to make this 1 for the record books!  You can check out my personal blog post about their wedding

here

.

Screen Shot 2014-04-29 at 10.16.00 AM

Working alongside this couple was a dream come true!  Not only did they have incredible style, but they knew what was important to them, and placed a strong emphasis on that all throughout the planning.  I could go on and on about this day, but figure I'll let Kristy tell you, as she really sums it all the best! (thank you to 100 Layer Cake, for sending the following Q&A from Kristy my way!)

Can you tell us briefly a bit about you, and how you met?  Matt and I met at a punk rock show in Victoria, BC.

How would you describe your wedding theme?  We wanted a small rustic farm wedding with lots of antique touches for our theme. This included lots of wildflowers and colours.

Do you have any particularly significant stories about something that happened on or defined your wedding?  Matt and I have a basset hound and we wanted him to be part of our day. One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing our hound spending time with all our guests. In lots of our photos you can see him with different people!

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

Describe the inspiration for your wedding. What do you think made your wedding particularly you?  

Before meeting Matt I never expected to want to have a big fancy wedding. However, once we got engaged I really wanted to celebrate our love, as cheesy as it sounds! We wanted to keep it small and informal. Our first decision for our wedding was that it must be on a farm. Birds Eye Cove was the perfect location and provided much of our inspiration. We wanted to play on its rustic features and add some of our own touches. Music was a must since Matt and many of our guests are musicians. We brought lots of records from our own collection and found a great Buddy Holly tribute band, Johnny Vallis.

Describe any awesome DIY projects?  One of my favorite DIY projects was making our bourbon bar. We both love bourbon so we picked four of our favorite bourbons and created four bourbon cocktails. Guests could then pick which bourbon they wanted to try and in one of the cocktails. Barb, our amazing planner, and Erica, from Rook & Rose made this idea even better by featuring the cocktail and bourbon choices on a window pane by the bar.

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

What was your favorite part/memory of your wedding?  

The speeches were my favorite part of our wedding. It was such a special moment. My grandparents' speech was incredibly sweet and had me, and many of our guests tearing up. Their speech was followed by some pretty goofy stories that had us all giggling our tears away after as well!  I will never forget all the amazing people who spoke on our behalf and their wonderful words of wisdom and support.

What did you splash the cash on for your wedding and why?  We splashed the cash on food and music (and my dress)! We both agreed that great food and music really make a great wedding. We decided to do a mainly vegetarian meal with a few seafood dishes. Food For Thought was the perfect catering vendor for us. We asked for a loaded dessert table and it was the most delicious table of goodies I could ever imagine! Having a live band was really worth splashing the cash as well. We love live music and Buddy Holly is one of our favorite bands. We discovered that Johnny Vallis, as Buddy Holly, was the best Buddy Holly tribute around and was right in our backyard so it was meant to be!What did you really save money on and how?  Having a wedding planner really helped us save money and keep everything within our budget. Barb from French Kiss Events made everything possible! Without her and her team our wedding could not have been the perfect day. She helped us pick out the right vendors and realize all those special touches that made everything so beautiful and unique while still staying within our budget.

In retrospect, was there anything you would have done differently?  I wouldn't change anything about our wedding.What advice would you give or lessons did you learn?  What I took away from our wedding day and all the months of planning is to make it about love! Include what you love and let those you love help. It makes the day that much more special.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Kristy & Matt, for asking me to be a part of your wedding!  I wish you nothing but the best, and can't wait to hear what is next for you 2!

xo Barb