Images courtesy of Tim Gibson

We have finally found the solution for all you brides looking for that perfect designer dress that you just have to have, but can’t justify spending a third of your budget on. Nearly Newlywed is an online boutique for modern brides to buy, try and sell ‘nearly new’, fashion-forward, hard-to-find dresses. Who would of thought you would be able to save money, and make money on your wedding dress?

Think high-end designers like Jenny Packham, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Rodarte and Carolina Herrerao at 40 to 90 per cent off the retail price.

“We’re here to create a trust-worthy upscale shopping experience online so that girls everywhere can have access to dresses they maybe otherwise wouldn’t – we help brides to be, and former brides, save money,” said owner and creator of Nearly Newlywed, Jacqueline Courtney. “You can sell your dress with us, so if you bought a new dress, and you don’t feel the need to hold onto it, we work with brides to help the next lucky bride to wear it.”

Jacqueline has a background in PR and was a bridal publicist working with celebrities of all kinds, and feels like all brides should also get that red carpet experience, at least once in their life.

You can get a great deal on a dress that’s either a sample or nearly new, meaning it’s been worn once, maybe twice. They make sure all the dresses are of a very high quality and are wearable. The best part? If you buy a dress from them, you can either sell it back if you don’t want to keep it, or you can send it back and they’ll help you sell it. So, they help brides at all stages of their wedding, even afterwards.

You simply send a photo of your dress, along with a description of the condition of the dress. If it is accepted, it will be posted on the website for an agreed amount. If someone decides to ‘rent’ your dress, the majority of the money goes directly to you, and you don’t have to pay anything up front, or at anytime during the process.

What inspired you to start Nearly Newlywed?

“Definitely my own wedding, I got married a year and a half ago. Personally, I had a modern approach to my wedding and I knew I wanted to look a certain way but I didn’t want to spend a fortune on my dress. I also knew I didn’t necessarily need to keep it to pass it down. I was looking for something special, but for some sort of way to not spend a lot.

It’s something that I wish had existed when I got married, so that’s the reason I started this business. I kind of went about it myself, buying a dress from a bride, wearing it myself and then reselling it. But the process was really difficult.”

How do you decide which dresses are a good fit for the online store and where do they come from?

“Really we just accept gowns that we think our girls would want to wear. They definitely have to be in great condition, so they will feel good about wearing it. We also try to look at market trends – some girls want dresses that are a bit more bohemian. Some want gowns that are more princess-like, so we have a high-end curated collection with something for every sort of bride.

We don’t have any rules for what sort of dress; we take the kind of dresses that brides are requesting for or are interested in, so we don’t have a rule of it being designer. We have some small designers that are not as well-known and some of the bigger ones. Right now we’re working with Kleinfelds in New York to get some of their sample and dresses. But most of our gowns right now are from brides. We’re still a young company, so we can’t take on as many gowns as we want; we’re working on expanding so we can accept more.”

What makes Nearly Newlywed better and easier to use than a traditional sample sale or consignment store?

“There are a lot of sample sales here in New York. I think the main difference is the access and selection, because we’re getting dresses from girls from all over. There’s much more to choose from and that’s the reason why we want to expand.

It’s nice to not feel like you’re shopping at a sale. A lot of women are coming back and visiting the dresses numerous times over a long period of time, so they can still feel like they are having a bit more of a traditional shopping experience. They are able to take it home and do an at-home viewing with their family and bridesmaids. They can look at the dress and see it on themselves in the comforts of their own home, which is a nice personal aspect. I also think the fact that we specialise in selling them back for the bride, or offering a high end place for a bride to sell it again also helps.”

How do you approach a bride’s budget?

“A lot of women come in saying, ‘It’s my big day so what I’m wearing is very important…but at the same time I can’t get my head around spending 1/3 of my budget on the gown.’ Because we have the sell-it-back option, a girl can fall in love with a dress and decide if she wants to sell it back afterwards. That can substantially change the cost of the gown. We also try to have a variation of price points; there are some gowns that are a little more expensive and others that are a little less.”

When a bride buys a dress, is it altered for them or do they take care of that part themselves?

“We don’t provide alterations – we do measure all the dresses and talk with women at length on the phone and online about what they are looking for so that they can get something that is close, but just like a dress you buy new, you still have to take it to a tailor and get it fitted just right.”

In your experience as a bride, and with your business, what is the most difficult part for a bride when choosing a dress?

“I think the most difficult part, and I speak also from experience having been a bride, is deciding on the look that you want for your wedding. A lot of the time when girls are shopping for a dress you hear things like, ‘Are you a modern bride? Are you a bohemian bride? Are you a vintage bride? Or what type of wedding is it? Is it black tie? Is it beachy?’

It’s such a big day and most women don’t get a chance to dress up like that very often, so the hardest part is formulating the vision. Every girl has a few different types of gowns that they would love to wear, and it’s just about deciding what direction to go.

We’ve had a few women come in and do fittings in New York and really fall in love with more than one dress. I think the hardest part is committing to that vision of how you want to look on your wedding. There are always a few different things that would look great on you, and it just depends on how you see yourself as a bride. It’s tough to make that final choice because you feel like that part is kind of over.”

What advice do you have for brides on choosing that perfect dress?

“You want to take into consideration what type of wedding you’re having and where it’s going to be, but at the end of the day you really want to wear something you’re going to feel really special and comfortable in.

Brides should be open. A lot of girls come in thinking they can only wear one type of dress with their body type, but usually there are always more options than that. It really just comes down to how you see yourself looking on your wedding day and what’s going to make you feel special. Especially with our brides, who are usually selling them back, it’s really about having that perfect day, and perfect photos and all about the experience of that day – you want to wear something you’re going to feel amazing in.”

What is this year’s popular trend?

“A lot of women are wanting to wear a second dress – something a little more formal and bridal for their first dress. There’s a lot of colour – lots of women are interested in blush, even deeper pinks and other colours outside of the white and ivory range.

In terms of sillouette, some girls are really liking the Monique Huillier candy dress. It has a very interesting embellishment, and it’s very intricate. There’s also a bit of a Great Gatsby, bohemian sort of 1920’s vibe that girls are looking for. A little bit of glitter, a little more slinky, a little bit more romantic. There are a lot of girls who still want a full traditional gown as well.”

For 2013, Jacqueline and the Nearly Newlwed team will be continuing their partnership with Kleinfelds New York. They are also working on expanding their business to be more accessible for local brides so they can come in and try the dresses on. We think this definitely warrants a trip to New York, ladies!

They’re also working on introducing some additional tools on the site so brides can request a specific dress or a specific style which may not have been introduced yet. This way they can get to know the girls, help them track down that perfect gown and help them figure out exactly what they are looking for and be able to create more of a personal shopping experience online.

“We’re very by the bride, and for the bride. We’re small but we’re really trying to be the place where girls feel excited about getting their gowns, even if it is for a deal. We want to be the place where they can feel proud to have gotten their dress from; that’s our main goal.”

The post Friday’s Find | An Interview with Jacqueline Courtney of Nearly Newlywed appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

Choosing your wedding party and deciding what they are responsible for is one of the first wedding decisions that you make after your engagement. For many couples choosing their bridal party is a simple task. Some just chose their immediate family. But if you have a large family or large family and circle of friends, it can be a daunting task.

Couples usually have eight to twelve attendants, but this will vary depending on the size and style of your wedding. According to Emily Post, there is no required number of attendants. You can include as many or as few people as you wish. Even a big formal wedding with one or two attendants on each side is perfectly acceptable. It’s also unnecessary to have an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen: one groomsman can easily escort two bridesmaids during the recessional, or bridesmaids can walk alone or in pairs. You can have two maids of honour, a maid and matron of honour, or two best men.

Just remember that the more bridesmaids you have, the more complicated it gets. The more girls you have deciding on a dress that everyone likes, your shower, the bachelorette party, and the more you’ll have to spend as well. Only choose as many gifts and bouquets as will realistically fit into your budget.

Trouble deciding on your maid/matron of honour? Sisters, as a rule of thumb, come before friends. Otherwise choose your oldest and most loyal pal―the one who knows when to tell you what you want to hear and when to be brutally honest.

For your bridesmaids, choose friends who will be in your life long after your wedding day. The negative, dramatic types are ever a good fit.  Also, don’t forget your fiancé’s sister. Honestly, 90 per cent of the time, it’s worth including family members just to avoid unnecessary conflict.

And yes, it’s fine to ask a friend who is pregnant to be a bridesmaid – just be considerate of her needs and capabilities. For instance, make sure a chair is placed near the altar area so that she can take a seat if the service is lengthy.

Another rule of thumb is that  just because someone asked you to be in her wedding doesn’t mean she has to be in your wedding.

Photo : KGOODPHOTO

It’s a great honour to be asked to be in a wedding, but some people may have other obligations and it might not be possible for them to accept. So, don’t be offended or expect a detailed explanation if someone turns down your invitation.Rather, express your disappointment without even a hint of disapproval.

Make sure all participants know up front what you are expecting of them and name your attendants soon after you choose a date so they have ample time to plan, because it’s a big job. Members of the bridal party are expected to assist the bride and groom and to see that the wedding and reception run smoothly.

According to Emily Post, they are expected to visit with guests, assist the elderly, be attentive to young children in the wedding party, be available for photos, and generally help out whenever needed.

In addition all members of the bridal party can expect to:

• Pay for their wedding attire and any alterations, shoes and accessories (excluding flowers).
• Arrange and pay for their own transportation.
• Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
• Attend other prewedding events.
• Give an individual wedding gift to the couple or contribute to a joint gift.
• Arrive at a specified time for all wedding-related events.
• Possibly host or cohost a shower, bachelor(ette) party (however this is by no means mandatory).

Maid/Matron’s Duties:

• Helps the bride select bridesmaids’ attire.
• Be available to be the bride’s “right hand”, helping with communications with other attendants and with wedding professionals if requested.
• Coordinates a shower or bachelorette party, if the bridesmaids decide to host one.
• Organises bridesmaid’s gift to the bride and bridesmaids luncheon, if there is one.
• Holds the groom’s ring and bride’s bouquet during the ceremony.
• Witness the signing of the marriage certificate.
• Helps the bride during the reception.

Best Man’s Duties:

• Organises the bachelor party for the groom if there is one.
• Coordinates the groomsmen’s gift to the groom.
• Delivers prearranged payments to officiants, assistants and musicians at the ceremony.
• See that the groomsmen are properly attired and arrive on time.
• Hands the bride’s ring to the groom during the ceremony.
• Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate.
• Offers the first toast to the bride and grooms at the reception, dances with the bride, mothers, maid of honour and other single female guests.

Photo : [stu-di-o] by jeanie

But remember, these are traditions that have been made long ago, and who says that you have to follow them? Stay true to your heart and yourself and communicated clearly and effectively, and your wedding will turn out to be the one of your dreams!

The post Marriage Manners Monday | Choosing Your Wedding Party appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

CLICK HERE FOR HEIRLOOM VINTAGE WEDDING MAGAZINE WINTER/ SPRING 2013 Issue

This issue is filled with lots of DIY tutorials for sweets, including a step-by-step guide on how to set up the perfect sweet table for your special occasion, and an up close and personal interview with one of Vancouver’s most fabulous cake designers.

We also feature five glorious British Columbia real weddings, all in beautiful locations and filled with intricate details to spur your own imagination.

We’re also sharing with you our styled engagement shoot winners, Kristal and Scott. Read all about their love story inside!

We hope you enjoy your read! Check in with our Facebook page as we are going to be posting various trivia throughout the day!

A big thanks to all our amazing vendors:

• Uniquity Invitations
• Laura Lavender
• Stu-di-o Jeanie
• Shari and Mike Photographers
• Blush Wedding Photography
• Erin Wallis Photography
• The Nickersons
• Amber Hughes Photography
• Mikaela Ruth Photography
• Fill In The Blank Studios 
• Kein & Sweet
• As Sweet As It Gets
• Kailey-Michelle Events
• Flower-Z
• Flower Factory
• Elsa Corsi
• Manuel Mendoza
• Make Up By Felicia
• Musical Occasions

❤ Alicia-Rae, Tammy and Jeanie

The post Announcing the Launch of Heirloom Vintage Wedding Magazine’s Winter/Spring Issue #2 appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

All images courtesy of  Stu-di-o Jeanie

How many times have you seen those stunning vintage, distressed pieces with that velvety matte finish and thought, I could do that? The Passionate Home is a gorgeous home décor store in downtown Langley filled with so many vintage treasures and they specialise in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

The Passionate Home offers a full range of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, waxes, brushes and books. And, they offer classes with hands-on training in all the basics you need to paint anything from a small chalkboard or frame to a full headboard, door or cabinet. The techniques taught in the classes are essential for all you vintage brides wanting to incorporate anything distressed into your big day.

You may have heard of the product before – but this is the best of the best. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is the original. Its called chalk paint because its matte, smooth and chalky looking and feels that way once it has completely dried. You can create a chalkboard with it, but it is not the same thing as chalkboard paint.

Get excited because we’ve teamed up with The Passionate Home and put together a class especially for you vintage brides – a one off class where you will learn the basic techniques of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and make your own vintage distressed chalkboard to use at your own wedding! The class will be held on Sunday March 24th – more details to come soon! Please e-mail us here to sign up for the class and for more information.

Annie Sloan’s colour palette is inspired by 18th and 20th Century decor and design, and what a gorgeous selection of colours it is!

Imagine a gorgeous ‘Old White’ vintage desk for your signing table, old picture frames in ‘Paris Grey’ for your table numbers, a ‘Duck Egg’ wooden arbor for your outdoor garden ceremony, or some special chairs in the bold and beautiful ‘Florence’ for the bride and groom for photos. You could even incorporate ‘Pure White’ painted mason jars into your table decor or hung down the aisle and filled with flowers at your ceremony.

And just think, you can use all of your creations in your new home after the big day – talk about budget-friendly and smart spending!

The paint was created in England in 1990. Annie Sloan wanted to create a versatile paint that would have many uses from acting like limewash to looking like old painted furniture.

The best part about the paint is that it is very easy to work with. There is no sanding or stripping required before starting a project with ASCP. You can pretty much paint on anything, it goes over metal, plastic, clay pots, galvanized steel, fabric, there’s so many endless possibilities.

The paint dries in 20 minutes to half an hour – it’s so fast that you can finish a big project in one day. You can step away from it. Most projects only take one coat, with the whites usually take two. You can leave the paint open for hours and it wont dry up. If it gets too thick, just at water. Sounds too good to be true right? The Passionate Home invited the ladies of Heirloom to a class and we tried it for ourselves… it isn’t!

I have to say, that since taking the class, I have become a chalk-painting, furniture-hoarding addict, spending every weekend at thrift stores around the Lower Mainland gathering up anything I can change into a vintage gem, husband-in-tow. Carrie Thachuk , the owner of the beautiful shop did warn us this could happen.

Carrie is so incredibly passionate about what she does.  The first time she tried Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (which we’ll refer to as ASCP from now on), after finding it at a market, she was standing in her garage saying, “Oh my God this is amazing. It was sticking, it was beautiful. Everything in my house needed to be Paris Grey. I just couldn’t stop.”

“It’s been such a joy to discover all the things that [ASCP] can do and to share it with people and to see their joy, and the transformations it makes,” said Carrie. “There are so many beautiful pieces that can be redone, its good for the environment, just good all around. Everybody is winning except for the husband’s whose garage is now full of furniture.”

Owner, Carrie Thachuk, explaining the history behind how she brought ASCP into her store.

This regular classes teach you everything you need to know to create the look at a fraction of the cost.  Students will learn the basics of how to apply one or two colors of  ASCP, different distressing techniques and the proper application of Annie Sloan Soft Wax.  Each student will leave with six different beautiful samples and the enthusiasm and expertise to go home and finish a piece of furniture!

By the end of the class you should be able to go home, understand how the waxes are going to change the paint color, how to properly apply the wax so that it’ll cure and dry properly and you’ll have all the freedom to go home, with confidence to do your piece.

“We think this paint is absolutely amazing, because to be able to revitalize all of your grandmas old pieces, that have been inherited or in the storage or the basement and nobody is enjoying them, so to be able to paint it up and actually use it us so awesome,” said Eleanor an employee at The Passionate Home who taught us all the techniques alongside Carrie.

The next few regular classes will be this Saturday February 9th (beginners class), Saturday March 2nd (advanced class) or Saturday March 9th (beginner class) – click here to register. All classes include all the supplies that you will need for the day – just show up in your painting clothes!

Or if you’re interested in our vintage chalkboard class, why not round up your bridesmaids and make a ladies night out of it? Wine, cheese and wedding crafting… what more can a vintage bride ask for?

The post Distressing Furniture using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint | Friday’s Find appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

All images courtesy of Katya Nova Photography 

You get in bed together. Your husband turns to you and says, “Let’s have sex.” But, you’re still angry about the fight you had earlier that evening, perhaps, and so you roll away and say, “I’m not in the mood,” before going to sleep.

Well guess what? You have just used sex as a weapon. Controlling the amount and timing of sex can be a way to gain power in a relationship, and so many women do it, sometimes without even realising.

I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of this myself. When my husband and I get in an argument, even if we make up, the last thing I feel like doing is having sex. On the other hand, that’s the first thing he feels like doing. And his reaction is probably the right one. Sex can, and should be, used to deepen your connection to each other and as a pronouncement of love not as power. Unintentionally, by having that reaction, I was punishing him because somewhere in the back of my mind, I don’t feel like he deserves to be intimate with me for how he acted earlier.

The difference between men and women is that most men don’t care if you’re mad at them, they will still want to have sex. And, more often than not, when a man is satisfied physically, he will go the extra mile to be the protector, provider and partner you want him to be.

Turning your man down repeatedly will begin to play with his self-esteem. If you haven’t realised this yet, men are driven by ego.  So, turning him away makes him question his self-worth and leads him to wonder if he’s satisfying you, if he’s turned you off, or if you even want him anymore. What ensues are feelings of anger and frustration, which might start to be reflected in other areas of your relationship.

This why you always hear that communication is the key to a healthy relationship – we think so too!

As a side note, men are visual beings. Wearing sweatpants every day, never getting dolled up for a night out anymore sends out the message that you don’t want to be attractive to your man. Attraction is a visual experience for men. As old-fashioned and archaic as it may sound, when you said the words “I do” and pledged your undying love, you also pledged to satisfy your husband’s most basic desire.

Of course, all the blame can’t lie in the hands of women. Men also need to realise that their husbandly duties go far beyond getting up for work every day; they need to take the time to find out which of their woman’s needs aren’t being met to make her not want to have sex.

Have you seen the movie, Annie Hall? It depicts two lovers with different perceptions of their sexual relationship. When a therapist asks them separately how often they have sex, the character played by Woody Allen answers, “Hardly ever, maybe three times a week.” The character played by Diane Keaton replies, “Constantly, three times a week.”

What a lot of men don’t realise is that a women’s sexual desires are usually connected with her emotional desires. And what many women don’t realise is that men don’t connect sex and emotional desires in the same way as they do.

So ladies, enjoy the fact that your husband wants you, all the time. Gentlemen, realise that all the time is more than most women can handle. Marriage is about compromising.

Instead of not having or withholding sex at the first sign of trouble or an argument, use it to get back on track. It’s a scientific fact that having regular sex improves your quality of life. Getting married doesn’t mean the death of hot sex, but it will take an effort on both ends to keep it steamy in the years to come.

According to a study at Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland, having sex releases the feel-good chemical Oxytocin (aka the cuddle hormone) which makes couples feel loving and more bonded. It promotes feelings of affection, safety, trust and contentment. Making love soothes the bad feelings. So, couples who have regular sexual intercourse are more emotionally intimate and communicate much better, which means less arguments to begin with.

And remember, your sexual relationship shouldn’t be a topic that you can’t discuss freely and frankly with your spouse. Be open, honest and always ready to communicate on this subject. Simply put – having sex makes everything better and is better for you than not having sex.

There may be times when the two of you are having trouble communicating and connecting with eachother. Kids, friends, work and hobbies can very easily get in the way of maintaining a good relationship.  If you’re having trouble in your marriage, it will get worse if you’re not connecting sexually.

So, use your spare time together wisely. Fiancees and husbands, you can thank us later

Questions to ponder:

• Do you feel comfortable sharing your desires with your partner?
• How many times a week do you expect to have sex in your marriage?
• Are you happy with your sex life?
• What do you love about your sex life?
• What do you wish was different?
• Are you satisfied with the amount of affection received from your partner?
• Are you comfortable discussing your sexual likes and dislikes?
• What are your expectations of your sexual relationship?

The post Ten things to talk about before Marriage | Week Ten: Sex appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

This week for ten things to talk about before marriage, we’re discussing conflict resolution.  How do you talk to each other? Do you listen? Do you feel understood? These are all very important things to iron out before the big day.

Communication usually comes easily to most engaged and newlywed couples. You feel like you can talk to each other about anything – you might even find it hard to understand why married couples fight.

Or maybe you have already had some arguments and are worried about how to make things go more smoothly in the future. Wedding planning can bring up all kinds of disagreements, from family matters to financial issues.

Photo : Gabriel Ryan Photographers

It’s totally natural for you to have different approaches towards how to handle certain situations and problems and to have different opinions on all kinds of issues. The way we handle problems, more than the problems themselves, often can be the real problem. Conflict is natural, people in a relationship are always going to have differences. As couples become closer, their differences can sometimes cause disagreements.

Thankfully, conflict can be a positive thing if it is resolved in a healthy way. Love and respect are absolutely key in handling conflict – so keep in mind that your goal is to resolve the issue at hand and not to hurt your partner.

Questions to go over with your partner to learn how you as a couple deal with conflict and how to improve upon how you do (there’s always room for improvement):

- How did your parents deal with conflict?

– How will we make decisions together?

– Are we both willing to face up to the difficult areas, or do we try to avoid conflict?

- Do you think we have problems in our relationship that we need to deal with before our wedding?

- Do we handle conflict well?

- How are we different?

- Do you think our differences will create problems in our marriage?

- Do you expect or want me to change?

- Can we both forgive?

- Are we both willing to work on our communication skills and to share intimately with each other?

– What are your perpetual issues?

- Do you have the same approaches to communication?

- Are there certain communication techniques that work better for you?

The post Ten things to talk about before Marriage | Week Nine: Conflict Resolution appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

‘Officiant’ is a word for someone who officiates a ceremony; priests, ministers, rabbis, imams, celebrants, marriage commissioners are all officiants and are of course an integral part of your wedding day.

Marriages in Canada can be either civil or religious. According to the B.C. government, to arrange a religious ceremony, you can choose a religious representative who must be registered with the Vital Statistics Agency. Civil ceremonies are performed by marriage commissioners, who are private citizens appointed by the chief executive officer of the Vital Statistics Agency.

So, you get to chose how you want your ceremony conducted. Apart from a few legalities and paperwork, marriage ceremonies can be customised as you please.

We spoke with Michele Davidson of Modern Celebrant to get some clarification between the different roles, and specifically what her role as a ‘celebrant’ entails.

According to Michele, a professional celebrant is unique among officiants. They have a formal education specifically in ceremony and  they guide individuals, couples, and families to mark the passages of the human life. Who better to conduct your ceremony than someone so diverse?

Celebrants not only study the ceremonial wedding traditions of many cultures and faiths but also everything from baby blessings to funerals, making them well-suited to create weddings for couples of different backgrounds. “We don’t go anywhere near cookie-cutter, template ceremonies,” said Michele.

The most important criteria she asks for in her clients is, “They need to be willing to share their hearts with me. It is not possible to vision and write such personal wedding ceremonies without knowing the couple it is written for.”

Photo by Anastasia Photography

If you aren’t having a ‘religious’ ceremony, led by a religous leader, one main difference between commissioners and celebrants is that commissioners are unable to include any kind of religious content (celebrants are able to). But since there are so many of them in B.C. it won’t be hard to find a good match for you as a couple. Check out the extensive list here. Another difference is that commissioners also book multiple ceremonies in a day due to such high demand.

With a celebrant, you work with them from scratch, They will write a ceremony that is uniquely yours, as they specialise in creating bespoke ceremonies. The only downside is that celebrants cost considerably more than commissioners and most other types of officiants. The main reason for this is that they are highly educated  in ceremonial speaking and writing, so you are getting what you pay for. And plus they don’t book a series of ceremonies on the same day.

Modern Celebrant accepts a maximum of 20 wedding ceremony commissions each year to make sure every ceremony is a profound expression of the couple it is created for. 

We asked Michele if she conducts a specific style of ceremony and her response was, “No. The sky is the limit. I’ve done everything from highly formal luxury ceremonies to Pagan forest weddings, ceremonies for people of no faith and those of deep faith and of all orientations. It has been an immense privilege to have couples call upon me to create a warm and inclusive wedding ceremony when they are of quite different backgrounds. I create on a client-by-client basis. No two ceremonies are ever the same.”

Her ceremonies are very much collaborations with her clients. She gets together with couples for a relaxed, in-person interview. “It can be at their place or mine, and sometimes I even cook for them! I listen deeply, drawing out the most compelling threads of the experiences and feelings my clients share with me.”

“My gift as a ceremonial writer and storyteller is to weave a couple’s own words and feelings into the tapestry that will be their wedding ceremony.”

Modern Celebrant offers wedding ceremonies ranging from $695 to $2,200. Some are deeply reflective sacred ceremonies involving a lot of creative vision. Others are more brief in both process and length of the ceremony. “Our wedding ceremonies are experiences not events. Our most popular wedding ceremony experience is $1,800. We are open to anything except the mass-produced and the perfunctory.” 

So, why should a bride and groom choose Modern Celebrant over another type of ceremony? What makes Modern Celebrant special?

“I work with remarkable people who believe in the lasting value of a wedding ceremony created for and about them. The couples that are drawn to these one-of-a-kind wedding ceremony experiences are couples that want their first step into marriage to be powerfully experienced and collectively remembered.”

Interested in hiring a celebrant? Here are some more tips on choosing the perfect one from Michele!

The post Tuesday Tea Time | Modern Celebrant – Types of Marriage Officiants appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

When you’re in love, it’s easy to overlook some of the important discussions you should have before you say “I do.” So, for this week of “Ten Things to Talk About Before Marriage,” we’re discussing another one of those important chats you and your sweetie should have – personal values and the importance of religion in your daily life.

It’s likely that you’re marrying someone who has similar values and shares the same views on life as you. Whether you’re an interfaith couple, or you share the same beliefs, you must discuss the role of religion and personal values in your relationship. It’s usually only after it causes a major argument later in life that some couples realise how different their beliefs really are and how they play a bigger role in marriage than they expected.

Statistics say that couples who have the same faith have a better chance at making it. Of course it helps to share similar values, beliefs and interests, but it’s being loving, caring, having good communication and mutual respect of each other’s beliefs with no intention to change them that is so much more important. Many people are happily married to people of other faiths, beliefs, religions and with different values.

Unfortunately, religion is often one of the biggest relationship ‘deal breakers.’ But by being open and taking the time to understand and accept your partner’s system of beliefs, dreams, needs and desires, and by being willing to put in an effort to create a game plan for your life together, the transition into marriage and planning your life as a couple, having and raising children, will go much more smoothly.

Religion will unavoidably come up when planning your ceremony, so why not talk about it before that.

Photo : Anna Kuperberg

Will it be held in a church/mosque/synagogue or in a non-religious place like a garden, golf course, restaurant or simply in your own backyard? Who gets to decide this? Your families may also try to influence the role of religion in your relationship during this time. We came across this issue while planning our ceremony last summer. The week we got engaged, my dad insisted that we had to have the ceremony in a church – neither my husband or I wanted that.

Instead we opted for a gorgeous garden at a heritage venue, with our family friend and old pastor as our commissioner. We also took pre-marital classes with him, after my dad insisted on them numerous time, which we were hesitant about, but ended up loving because we discussed all these things before walking down the aisle.

Like all things, it is about being able to compromise.

People often take religious issues much more seriously after marriage than before, and even more so after having children. Of all the challenges couples will face is how they will raise their children, and many families also like to get involved when little ones come into the picture. But it’s so important that the two of you decide how you will practise or not practise faith in your own family.  

Questions to consider:

• Does religion play an important part in your life?

• Do you have similar and/or different values?

• How will you treat your religious differences?

• How important is church/synagogue/mosque attendance?

• Will you both take the children to church/synagogue/mosque?

• How important is religion, and how will you teach your kids?

• What will you do if your child wants to experience other faiths?

• What holidays will you celebrate with your family?

• Do you think faith and spirituality are important in a marriage?

The post Ten things to talk about before Marriage | Week Eight: Religion and Values appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

Nestled right in the center of Cambie Village, Vancouver’s most exquisite boutique wedding dress shop, Bisou Bridal, is filled with some of the most gorgeous bridal gown designs, catering to the bride who wants something a little less typical.

Photos : [stu-di-o] by jeanie 

“We strive to carry designers that we feel are a little bit different,” said Elise Menard, the operations manager at Bisou Bridal.  ”We offer classic styles as well, but from each of the designers we showcase, we try to include something unique at each price point. Uniqueness is a key point for us.”

Bisou Bridal opened in 2004, and they are the exclusive retailer for nearly all of their designers in British Columbia, making them the place to go to if you’re looking for something extra special.

“Because of the dresses that we offer, the designers tend to try and give exclusivity. Four of our big designers, Monique Lhuillier, Oscar De La Renta, Marchesa and Jenny Packham, are only carried by us and Toronto and that’s it.”

We asked Elise how they help vintage brides put together the perfect look:

“We have different designers who cater towards ‘vintage’ more than others, such as Jenny Packham, who is always in that one vein of classic vintage with lots of intricate beading. Then there’s Elizabeth Fillmore, who works without as much beading and gets into the 1920′s sleek silhouette styles.”

She said that they are seeing more brides who are brave enough to step away from classic styles and are breaking the mould, but it’s definitely still a niche. “It’s a cool niche that [we] get excited about,” said Elise. “If someone is doing a vintage wedding, I look forward to helping them because I know it’s going to be fun.”

For brides that don’t want full vintage, they can incorporate vintage headpieces, vintage belts and other accessories into a more classic style to “a bridge between total vintage and a traditional wedding style.”

“With brides right now, they like to incorporate lace fabric somehow. There are a variety of ways that fabric can be made, so lace can be really unique with different colours, different patterns, and everything. That’s the neat thing about it – you can have 100 people incorporate lace and they would all be different.”

The staff at Bisou are passionate about what they do, and Elise describes the experience of coming into the shop like you’re visiting friends, very relaxed and fun.

The team at Bisou Bridal completes all of the alterations in-house, and the four full-time ladies who run the shop are very experienced, having been working in the industry for upwards of 25 years.

When it comes to purchasing the gowns for the store, they visit the New York market twice a year, come home and go through everything together. “It’s good to have a group of people because everyone has different personal flavour, and styling,” explained Elise.

When asked what the best part of her job is, “helping the brides” was Elise’s response. “It’s working with people who find the dress that they just love. It’s the most rewarding thing. I don’t care how many times I hear it, it’s exciting when she finds the dress and she says “Yes”!

“The worst part compares with the best part. It’s when we’re not able to find someone something they love,” said Elise. “If a bride has a certain criteria that they want met in their dress, and I can’t meet it for them, that’s definitely the hardest part.”

At the end of the day, Bisou Bridal thinks the entire experience should be fun. If at any point some part of it is not fun, you need to step back, evaluate the situation and figure out how you can remove the stress out of it. If the dress feels stressful, something’s not right. Analyse how you’re going about finding a dress. Who are you looking with? That could be part of the stress. Are you being realistic about your budget?

“People have high expectations, and they want their wedding to be this spectacular day,” said Elise. “I always tell brides that some of the most memorable things are the things that went wrong. The stories you’re going to tell people are those dramatic ones.”

How does Bisou Bridal work with a bride’s budget?

The shop’s prices start just under $2,500, and they do have a lot at that range , but it’s also important for brides to consider things like alterations and taxes.

“We get brides who want Jenny Packham, but her dresses are hand-beaded by each order; she’s elaborate. These dresses are works of art and they are expensive,” said Elise. “The beading is done in India because the level of beadwork there is so high, it’s one of the best places in the world for it. So, if you want to wear a beaded Jenny Packham, you’re looking at $5000 and up.

Jenny Packham’s entry point starts at around $3,500, and they’ll have beaded pieces, but they won’t be fully beaded. “Sometimes a bride has to say goodbye to Jenny Packham. Or sometimes they try her on and it’s just not right.”

 Here are Bisou Bridal’s Top Three Tips on things you should figure out before looking for your perfect dress:

1) Budget

You should know your budget, and you should know if there is wiggle room, or not. Some brides come into the shop and say their budget is $3,000, but they know if they really loved it, someone like mom, may be willing to help out and push their budget to $5,000. Then we get other brides who say $2,500 is their firm budget. Help us, so we can help you. The ladies at Bisou will be your guide, and will say, “No, let’s not try that, let’s try this instead.”

2) Entourage size

Size of entourage is extremely important. Do not bring too many people. As much as their opinions matter, you’re the only one who’s going to look back at your pictures in 25 years and care about your wedding dress. You really have to have your vision, and with too many people, it becomes their vision as well. Bring people who really know you well and will listen to what you think first and then give advice back based on that. We recommend that two or three people is a good number.

If you want to incorporate your bridesmaids, pick a dress, and then book an appointment back with us once you’ve made your selection. Put the dress on, bring some champagne and have a little party, which is perfect.

3) Refine the number of shops to visit

Sometimes looking at too much adds unnecessary stress. A lot of brides overwhelm themselves so much so that all the gowns start to look like one another. Take that stress away by limiting the number of bridal shops to visit. You should be able to find your dress within three shops; if you have to go to five or 10; you’re going to be exhausted.

The post Friday’s Find | Vancouver Bridal Shop | Bisou Bridal appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.

For week seven of 10 things to talk about before marriage, we’re discussing the importance of talking about your career aspirations and goals with your soon-to-be-spouse before you make the big commitment of spending your future together.

First things first – your current job. You’ve already discussed your salaries and financial goals after reading last week’s post on hashing out your finances, but what are each of your individual career goals in your current jobs? Do you plan to get a promotion in the next year? Or possibly move on to a different company, even a different role? Discuss and create your one, five and 10 year plans together.

Maybe you or your soon-to-be spouse are on a lifelong career path and have a plan already set out – so share your plans. It’s so important to be honest about things like relocation to another city if a job offer comes up as well as the possibility of needing additional education in the future to get you to where you aspire to be in your career. It’s even important to come up with a plan in case one of you loses your job.

If you are a young couple, you may or may not be fully established in your respective careers, making it difficult to foresee the future and to find a balance between investing your time in your marriage, as well as in your career.

Some topics to discuss:

• Does one of you want to own your own business, or be an entrepreneur? There are a lot of sacrifices and risks involves with that, so it’s important to know you have a partner who will stand by you  through every bump in the road and every victory.

• Do both of you have a strong work ethic? Or does one of you need a little more motivation to get through their workload?

• How will having children affect your well-thought-out career plans? Will one of you be a stay-at-home mom or dad? 

• Are you willing to set boundaries at work to ensure that your family gets the attention they require and deserve?

• What type of support does your spouse expect from you when it comes to their career choice, whether it be financial or emotional?

• How much quality time to you expect to spend with your spouse when they are working long hours or have demanding projects?

The post Ten things to talk about before Marriage | Week Seven: Career Plans appeared first on Heirloom Magazine | Vancouver Wedding Magazine.