They can be very exciting and extremely overwhelming. Bridal shows come to Edmonton in September and then again in January.

Here are some tips on how to survive bridal shows if you choose to attend:

1. Go early. Earlier you go the less line ups and there will still be ‘freebies’ and fliers, also vendors have more time to talk to you. Also if you plan on booking a vendor at the show (not recommended) then your date may still be available.

2. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes; it’s not a fashion show.

3. Pre plan. Pre plan your route through the halls, and your transportation to the event. They tend to hike up parking prices and parking can be very limited.

3. Bring a bag. Not only a bag but a bag with bottles of water, and some snacks. The food at these events is usually price, not healthy and poorly cooked.

4. Create a free email account prior to going to the event, and use that email address to enter into draws. You will be spammed by vendors, sometimes even two years after you attended.

5. Pre-do little labels with your name and email address (refer to point #4), and mailing address. If you put your phone number, they will call you.

6. Bring a camera or iPhone to take photos, but remember to ask the vendor if it is okay for you to take pictures, that way if you see something you like you won’t have a hard time explaining it.

Finally only take fliers from companies you are truly interested in because it will only cause a headache for you to sort through at the end.

Upcoming Shows:
Fall
Bridal Conference ;  September 19, 2010;  Edmonton Expo Centre
Love Story Expo;   September 26, 2010; Transalta  Tri-Leasure Centre
Edmonton Bridal Expo;  October 3, 2010;  Shaw Conference Centre

Spring
Bridal Fantasy;  January 23, 2011;  Edmonton Expo Centre

(Source)

They are inevitable, and everyone needs to do them. There is a right and a wrong way to do them; a quick and easy way, and a long, tedious and painful way.

Don’t do pictures in front of all your guests. Why? Because they cause them to take much longer, because “aunt Judy didn’t get the shot” . They also have flashes, which then in return can mess up the professional photographer. They are also extremely distracting. “Aunt Judy” will also try and reposition you to her liking or “I just need to steal them for one minute”. That one minute adds up quickly when you have 200 guests. (to avoid this, go into a separate room while the guests leave, that way they don’t try and find you, because they will)

Do your photos at the ceremony location, or around that location. This will ensure you don’t spend time on travel and this way people do not get lost in transit – which causes more delays and happens more than you think.

Don’t do these photos in a busy part of the city. Again it will cause delays, issues with parking, and lost participants.

Do give your photographer a list of names of “important” people so they know who to call out. If there are must have combinations, give that to the photographer in advance so they can plan accordingly.

Do ensure that everyone you want in pictures knows, prior to the wedding when and where they have to be there so they are not mingling – which delays photos even more.

Do have someone designate to “shoo off” guests, and wrangle the bridal party and parents. If you or the photographer do it, it, again, will take much longer.

Julianne Cragg | Edmonton Wedding Planner
A Modern Proposal Event Planning
o: 780.760.1466 | c: 780.901.5630

Rachel + Chris were married at the lovely Winspear Centre in downtown Edmonton. She wore gorgeous Pronovias gown, that suited her just perfectly!

They incorporated, from her culture, the cord and veil ceremony which was very beautiful and symbolic.

The theme of the wedding was a ‘travel’ theme, they had sent out invites that resembled boarding passes, and had “Passports” as wedding programs (no picture sorry!), the wedding favors were luggage tags, tables named after places they had traveled, and these postcards were put on the tables so that guests could send them a message.

 This beautiful, seven layer, and tasty cake was created by Cakes by Trina.

This was the first time I have had the honour of working with Just Married Photography and it was a blast. Elaine + Kenneth definitely know what they are doing, here are two photos from the wedding from them – more to come for sure!

This one made my heart drop, but then again, I love vintage cars.

Myself, Kenneth + Elaine- they’re crazy (awesome)I told you!

Julianne Cragg | Edmonton Wedding Planner
A Modern Proposal Event Planning
o: 780.760.1466 | c: 780.901.5630

Ken + Tanya’s wedding was full of excitement, from a dove release to perogies!

The best part of the whole day for me was talking to the pigeons, I LOVE birds, they fascinate me. So when I heard that Ken + Tanya were doing a dove (pigeon) release I was extremely excited!

As the bride was Ukrainian there was a Korovai, a Ukrainian tradition, present. Look how beautiful it is! The bread is a symbolism of abundance and generosity, and the birds represent the couple and all their family and friends.

Ceremony: Trinity Anglican Church
Reception: St. Basil’s
Planner: A Modern Proposal
Photographer: Mode LaVan
Limousine: Eternity Limousines
Cake: Cakes by Janna
DJ: Echo Sound

Julianne Cragg | Edmonton Wedding Planner
A Modern Proposal Event Planning
o: 780.760.1466 | c: 780.901.5630

Oh how I loved these flowers – but yellow is definitely my favourite color. See I can do photos, as long as they are outside in the sun

I love the combination of mums, orchids, freesia, billy bobs, hydrangeas, and callas.

To embrace Huan’s culture, we had a Vietnamese tea ceremony – which I have no pictures of because I completely forgot my camera! As soon as Jaleen posts some I will post her pictures. It was very neat to see.

As a favour / centerpiece to bring luck to the guests, each guest was given a lottery ticket. It made for a very unique and cute centerpiece.

I loved the escort cards on the frame (from Ikea) that had ribbon strung across to hold the cards. Simple and very effective!

And of course the cake, very pretty with hand made flowers.

Ceremony: Petroleum Club
Reception: Petroleum Club
Tea Ceremony: Parent’s Home
Planner: A Modern Proposal
Photographer: Sweet Life Photography
Cake: Cakes by Janna
Flowers: La Piazza Dasee

Julianne Cragg | Edmonton Wedding Planner
A Modern Proposal Event Planning
o: 780.760.1466 | c: 780.901.5630

Join us at the Love Story Wedding Expo on September 26 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Transalta Tri –Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove.  There will be many professional vendors at the expo giving you tips and ideas on how to plan your dream wedding.

We have one set of tickets to give away plus three buy one get one free coupons to win! All you have to do is leave a comment (include your email address so we can contact you if you are a winner, I don’t send out spam and won’t keep you email address , so you don’t  need to worry about that). We will Draw a winner on August 30th.

Katherine + Chad wanted something beautiful yet simple that incorporated the two of them. They are two of the most beautiful people I have had the opportunity to work with. Katherine knits, you’ll notice her totally awesome tattoo in one of the photos below from the extremely talented Rob + Lauren. I seriously have never loved a tattoo so much, it’s unique and beautiful.

They did first look photos, instead of photos after the ceremony. See that beautiful blue shall she is carrying? She knitted it – and it has hundreds of little clear beads woven in for a sparkle factor - not she needed it the way she looked in that dress she did all the sparkling! 

Katherine + Chad were married on the third floor of the Winspear, with their closest family and friends.

Chad + Katherine are AMAZING ballroom dancers. They totally blew my socks off. Their first dance was just out of this world, They floated across the floor. The first photo is from them practicing in the Winspear.

So back to the knitting, she needed to indicate to the servers who had what meal, and what better way to do that than use some of her knitting material (yarn?) and tie the appropriate color to each name tag. Uber cute, unique, and functional!

And of course since all of that wasn’t awesome enough, the center pieces were inspired by their favorite restaurant ( Culina ) and I believe that Chad purposed to Katherine at the same restaurant.

I can’t say no to cupcakes (Whimsical), so yummy and very pretty!

 
See, what did I say? A totally beautiful and amazing couple! And finally, the bouquet carried a picture of her father, and the rings ( I so love this!) they had made off of Etsy, her ring has Chad’s finger print, and his has hers.

 
Ceremony Venue: Winspear
Reception Venue: Sutton Place
Coordinator: A Modern Proposal
Flowers: Corals
Photographer: Rob + Lauren (except the ones that don’t look professional, those are mine)
Officiant: Rose Rosenburger

Julianne Cragg | Edmonton Wedding Planner
A Modern Proposal Event Planning
o: 780.760.1466 | c: 780.901.5630