Imagine your photo on a delicious piece of chocolate - and I don't mean an M&M, I mean good quality chocolate in flavors like passion fruit, pomegranate and saffron swirl. Now you don't have to imagine anymore! Epiphanie Chocolates in Calgary can make you a one of a kind chocolate with your photo, wedding date and personalized message right on the Delicious chocolate! They look too good to eat, but trust me, once you try them, you'll want more and more and more!

You've spent years thinking about your perfect wedding day, and you've spend countless hours towards making that perfect day a reality. Now you want to enjoy this magical day without having to worry about who is going to take the floral arrangements from the church to the reception. While friends and family might be more than happy to assist, you want them to be free to celebrate and enjoy this special day with you. Let Cornerstone Events take care of it all so your day is stress free for you, your fiancé and all your guests.

Services provided:

• Initial meeting to discuss your wedding plans and expectations
• Creation of wedding day timeline
• Review of all vendor contracts to ensure you “get what you pay for”
• Main vendor contact on wedding day to ensure stress free day
• Supervision and direction of wedding rehearsal.
• Use of our wedding day emergency kit.
• Day of wedding coordination from 2 hours before your ceremony to the time of bouquet toss (approx 12 hours).
• Ceremony site check and set up.
• Directing guests, bridal party and family before and after ceremony.
• Last minute decor details – attaching pew bows, scattering petals, guestbook table set up, table numbers, guest favors, etc.
• Manage wedding day timeline (working with your MC and DJ)
• Manage reception i.e. cueing bridal party for speeches, cake cutting, dances and bridal bouquet toss.
• Transfer all gifts and envelopes to safe location and distribute payments to vendors.
The above list is just some of the things we can do for you on your day; these are flexible and can be tailored to meet your specific needs. We will work with you and your fiancé to ensure you can fully enjoy your day!

Receive 10% off the above package if you book by December 15, 2010!
Call us today at 403.619.4718 or email to info@cornerstoneevents.ca

I love shoes as much as the next girl, so I'm dedicating this post to SHOES!! I always tell my brides to do something fun with their shoes. I wore sketcher sneakers under my wedding dress as I am a tad bit taller than my wonderful husband. I was so comfortable on my wedding day! But I was torn and really wanted to wear some hot pink shoes - just like Kristine did on her wedding day!



I've got a great project I found on Green Wedding Shoes DIY Pretty Shoes! It's a fun way to add a touch of color to your wedding shoes. You could also do this to your bridesmaid shoes. It's a great way to use a classic black shoe and dress it up for your wedding. Once the wedding is over, your girls have a great black shoe that they'll wear over and over again.



If you want to add your touch of "blue" to your wedding shoe in a little more discrete way, here's a great DIY project from Wedding Bee



These are just a few ways to infuse some fun and personality into your wedding day!
Happy Planning!

*Images courtesy of TLAW Photography, Wedding Bee and Green Wedding Shoes

Yesterday we went through all the amazing talent that attended this year's Calgary Bridal Expo. But that's not all you have to choose from in the Wedding industry. There are some great vendors that were not in attendance as exhibitors and I'm here to share some of those with you!

Bridal Fashions:
Echo Bridal

Cakes:
Let Them Eat Cake
Cake Creations

Decor and Rentals:
Silva Designs


Favors:
Personalized M&Ms

Florists:
Peaseblossoms


Invitations:
Spoonful of Sugar
Maple Mountain Designs

Jewellery:
Swarovski Crystal

Photography:
TLaw Photography
Hot Shoe Photography

Reception and Catering:
Calgary Chamber of Commerce
Earl Grey Golf Course

And of course don't forget to check out our website
www.cornerstoneevents.ca Happy Planning!!

For all you brides (and grooms!) who attended yesterday's fabulous Calgary Bridal Expo here are some of our favorite vendors you may have seen while checking out all those gorgeous booths yesterday:

Bridal Fashions:
Bridal Center
Frocks Modern Bridesmaids

Cakes:
Buttercream Bake Shoppe
Cakery Bakery


Decor and Rentals:
Great Event Rentals

Favors:
Canadian Cancer Society

Florists:
Modern Petals

Gift Registry:
Bed, Bath and Beyond

Invitations:
Glimpz Invitations

Jewellery:
Stella and Dot

Lingerie:
She Apparel

Photography:
Bliss
Preserving Memories

Reception and Catering:
Great Events Catering
Calgary Zoo

Tuxedos:
Bridal Center

Videographer:
Preserving Memories

Tomorrow I'll fill you in on all the great vendors out there that did not attend the show - there is a lot more talent in the city then just what you saw at the show!

So we've probably all been to a wedding that had a candy bar, and we all know how much fun and how great they look. Especially when the bride and groom create a theme, whether it be their wedding colors or types of candy (such as old school candy - Poppey Smokes or gold mine gum anyone?)So here are some new food station ideas to WOW your guests!

Hot Chocolate Bar - think biscotti, chocolate drizzled marshmellows, whipped cream, colored sprinkles....

Coffee Bar - from espresso to flavored lattes, you can even use some of the ideas from the chocolate bar above - biscotti and coffee..mmmm

Popcorn Bar - Use sweet and savory flavors to appeal to all pallets

Cookie Bar - include some shoots of milk to wash down delicious homemade cookies

Ice Cream Bar - sprinkles, choclate and caramel sauce, whipped cream, bananas, cherries... keep your guest cool while their on the dance floor

Carnival Food Bar - Popcorn, corn dogs, mini burgers, candy floss, and of course mini donuts!

If there is one thing that seems to happen to a lot of couples is last minute RSVPs. You work for hours on your seating chart, only to have to squeeze in a few more people. Sometimes we find ourselves lucky and can put those stragglers on one table that happens to have seats free, but 9/10 times it requires juggling and moving other guests around.

So once again, Martha has a great way to solve this issue. These small envelopes, which you can find at craft stores in a variety of color, have guests names on them. This way, all you need to do is change the table number in the envelope when changes are made. You can display these cute envelopes by stringing pretty ribbon on an empty frame and using cute little clips to hang them.

Happy Planning!

*photos from Martha Stewart Weddings.com and Project Wedding

One of the first things your guests will ask when they enter your reception is "where am I sitting"? There are a few ways you can direct guests to their tables, by creating a seating chart, having someone at the door to tell them where they are sitting or place cards. You can also do a combination of these - having a seating chart and place cards, so guests sit in certain seats.

Here are just a few fun ways to display your guests name and help them find their way to their seats!

I know I should be blogging about Valentines Day and Spring and Summer weddings, but since I'm also working on a fall wedding for a client, I wanted to post this recipe for a great fall signature drink:

Pumpkin Pie Martini
Mix 1 oz. Vanilla Vodka,
1 oz. pumpkin liqueur,
½ oz. Bailey's Irish Cream,
a splash butterscotch Schnapps and ice

Shake, then pour and sprinkle with ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice.
For added "pie" effect,rim the glass with fresh lemon juice and crushed graham crackers.

*source - Simply Creative Insanity

Wedding days go by in a blink of a minute, or so it seems that way on the big day. So keep your bridesmaids and groomsmen happy by making sure they have something to nibble and sip on while you're taking photos.

Keep in mind not to include anything that is oily or can stain your dress, tuxes or your girls dresses. Clear liquids, crackers, grapes, and even finger sandwiches (hold the mustard and mayo!).

Having these snack boxes in the car or limo will help keep your attendants happy and save you time from having to stop through the drive-thru!


*source - Martha Stewart Weddings

So you've dreamt of your dream wedding for months, maybe even years now, and he finally popped the question! Congratulations!! Now the fun begins.

You know what you want, and are fairly organized, so you'd like to plan your wedding yourself, but maybe you need some help along the way. Did you know you can hire a wedding planner to assist you in finding great vendors or coming up and narrowing down some ideas for you? At Cornerstone Events we don't only offer full wedding planning services, we also offer hourly consultations to help you with everything from finding that perfect venue, to coming up with great ideas for a color palette, etc.

Another one of our more popular packages is our Day of Wedding Coordination. It's where you plan your wedding, and just want someone there on the day of the wedding to ensure things run smoothly. Sure you could ask your mom, mom in law, or a good friend to do stuff for you, but it's not only your day, it's their day too. They want to relax and enjoy your special day just as much as you do. You also want that for them too! You've put in so much time and effort into your big day, you want all your guest to enjoy it!

With Day of, we'll work with you to create a detailed timeline 4-6 weeks before your big day, review all your contracts so we know exactly what you're expecting and what you paid for, and ensure on the big day all your vendors know we're the point of contact should they need any information or need to get in touch with someone. We'll set up those last minute details, transfer items from the ceremony location to the reception location, and make sure you and your husband are relaxed and can enjoy the moment.

Wedding Days go by quick, so ensure you and your guest enjoy every moment. Call us today for a free consultation and we'll take you through step by step what we can do to make this special occasion that much more memorable for you!

I love interactive stations for weddings. Not only do you get to share some of your favorite treats with your guests, but your guests get to move around and have some fun at the reception. So when we saw this latest idea we were really excited about the potential of this idea.

We also love the idea of sending guests home with their own S'more kits to continue the fun at home!

*Source -elly b events

Yesterday while wandering around Pottery Barn for Holiday decor ideas (yes I'm thinking Christmas already!), I found these cute numbered mason jars. So as much as I was thinking Christmas, my mind always goes back to my favorite event - Weddings! How great would these be as table numbers? Fill each jar with a different type of candy - provide a scoop or some tongs, and encourage guests to share their treats with other tables!

Now Pottery Barn's jars only come numbered from 1-3 - so it's time to get creative and make our own. Here are some ideas:

Go to Ikea - yes that's right Ikea. Their Slom Jar is only $2.99 each and looks exactly like Pottery Barn's Mason jars.

Now go to Micheal's, get yourself some number or even alphabet stencils (you can put whatever name or number you'd like on your jar - maybe each table is named after the candy that's in the jar) and using paint that adheres to glass, stencil your jar.

What a simple and inexpensive way to create a unique way to number or name your tables!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We thought we'd share an fall inspiration board with you today while you're enjoying turkey and gravy!

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of working with the Art Gallery of Calgary where Leslie and Nic got married. We hosted their ceremony on the main level of the gallery, and followed it with a champagne cocktail party immediately after on the second level of the gallery. It was a great way for guests to mingle with the bride and groom and allowed the bride and groom to capture all the photos they wanted with their family right at the gallery.

Here are some photos of their ceremony, my assistant and I were so busy ensuring everyone had food and drinks, that we didn't get any photos of the Champagne cocktail party - we'll have to wait until Johnny from JT Images posts some of his photos so we can share them with you!

Thanks to Dacey at the Art Gallery and all the staff and volunteers on board that day! And congratulations to Leslie and Nic on a spectacular day!

This weekend we had the pleasure of working with another great couple. Sylvana and Brett are so in love and you could see it through the entire day. Sylvana did a fabulous of picking out all her colors and details, the ceremony and reception looked amazing.

We also got to work with some great vendors. Special thanks to Kristy and Erin and all the wonderful staff at the Sheraton, Theresa from Simply Elegant Decorations, Judy from Cake Sensations, and Corina from Dutch Touch Florist for helping the day turn out as magical as it did for these two love birds!

We'll have some other photos up soon from Maria Lang, the wonderful photographer who captured all the wonderful moments of the day!

I was fortunate enough to work with a wonderful couple like Sandra and Doug, who were married on June 6th. I also enjoyed working with Virginia Booth - owner of Hot Shoe Photography. Virginia is such a talented photographer! We'll be posting more photos of Sandra and Doug's wedding soon, but here's a sneak peek from Virginia's blog.

Congrats again Sandra and Doug!

Before we start I want to introduce Julia - my amazing wedding assistant! Julia is a recent graduate of the University of Calgary and has this amazing ability to remain calm, cool and collected on frantic wedding days! She's also my go to person for beauty tips - so here's one of many articles Julia will be contributing to Cornerstone Event's wedding blog - Welcome aboard Julia!!


They say the eyes are the windows to your soul, so on your wedding day, the last thing you want is your soul mate to look into puffy, sleep deprived eyes, right?

As a result of butterflies and a system bursting with excitement and adrenaline, numerous brides, myself included, almost always never get enough sleep and end up suffering the consequences afterwards.

Solving that problem is quite simple! Here are some easy DIY tricks that can get rid of those dark circles and puffy eyes in a flash - trust me, you’ll feel much better once those puffs are gone, and your eyes are awake!

1. Chilled teaspoons - keep an arsenal of these little babies in the fridge overnight, and throw them over yours eyes in the morning. They are the perfect shape to cover the eye area, and you will feel NOTHING but a refreshing chill on your eyes. It’ll not only take down the puffiness, but it’ll also revitalize and wake up your entire eye area. This no mess option is also great to take on the go if you can put it inside a cooler and keep it chilled. Keep them handy in the morning, after or even during the ceremony and the reception and you’ll have fresh eyes all day!

2. Chilled teabags - This is a wonderful option for puffy eyes since it not only deflates the puffs, and corrects discoloration from dark circles, but acts as a minispa in your own home! With the teabags, there are two options - looseleaf teas (you will have to get teabags to put the leaves inside. Specialty tea stores offer often offer numerous styles and sizes of teabags), or prepackaged teabags. While the prepackaged teabags are often easier to do, the looseleaf teas can give you more options in mixing and creating the right infusion for yourself. Here are some pointers in choosing the right tea:

a. Black Teas - contains natural caffeine, so it can 'wake up' your eye area

b. Chamomile/Lavender Teas - both of these flavours are known for its soothing and calming
properties, it can help to soothe your eye area as well as your mind

c. White Tea - known to have more antioxidants than even green tea, white teas will provide
both nutrients and refreshment for your eyes

d. Mixture - if you are choosing looseleaf teas, most specialty tea shops can create an infusion to
your liking.

Instructions:

• The night before you need the teabags, take a couple of teabags and steep them in a small pot of boiling water.
• 
  Once the tea has been steeped for about 5-10 min, remove the teabags, throw them out, and chill the tea overnight.
• 
  When you are ready to use the teabags, put an ice cube in the chilled tea, along with the number of teabags required, until the teabags are saturated.
• Squeeze off excess water and place over closed eyes

Located right here in Calgary, Phoebe Fairytale combines fun, flirty and sophisticated while creating unique jewellery, lip gloss and hair accessories.

They personally handcraft custom, one of a kind pieces for every day, formal or bridal events. Using quality materials and their keen sense of style, Phoebe Fairytale custom accessories are both beautiful and romantic. Their feather and flower headpieces are a perfect complement to your wedding or bridesmaid dress without the high cost often associated with store-bought bridal head pieces.

Then there are their flower wristlet and anklets. They are a beautiful modern alternative to the traditional corsage and can be customized to match your wedding colours.

And if that wasn't enough for you they also create homemade lip balms - reminiscent of your favourite fairytale and perfect for staggette take-aways and bridesmaid favours. The classic namesake the "Fairytale Balm" is our dual purposes lavender scented balm - perfect for a night lip seal and moisturizing cuticle balm. There are a variety of other fairytale inspired balms: Goldilocks (lemon), Snow White (red apple) and Snow Queen (spearmint with a hint of shimmer), each has its own distinct aromatic oil and tint of color.

Making weddings and 'the every day' special - they look forward to creating a custom piece just for you. They can be reached at

Phoebe.Fairytale@gmail.com

It's no secret that I heart Martha Stewart Weddings - so I have to share this latest inspiration board I put together borrowing images from the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. These touches add some much class to a formal black tie wedding.