From this Day Forward Ottawa Intimate Wedding / Corporate & Special Events Venue

Ahhh, the wedding toast….it’s what I consider the enigma of the wedding reception.  Sometimes funny, sometimes emotional, sometimes dull, or downright disastrous.  Having witnessed countless of the good, the bad, and the ugly, I just wanted to pass on a few dos and donts. 

Let’s first look at the purpose of this ritual.  According to history (but seemingly folklore), toasting began as a gesture of good faith by the host to the guests that they are not going to be poisoned with spiked wine.  The host would be the first one to have a drink of wine and it seems that if he remained standing, the guests would then happily follow (very strange and I’m glad our society has significantly evolved).  As legend has it, the term toasting refers to the process of floating a piece of toast in the wine goblet in order to reduce the acidity of the wine.  Given that we aren’t looking to poison our guests, or drink improperly fermented wine, the toast should simply be an occasion to say our thank-yous and offer well wishes. 

Now, given that I’m kind of a non-conformist to the traditional wedding laws, I am not going to preach the etiquette of the wedding toast.  I do agree that an expression of thanks should be given to both sets of parents, the wedding party, and even the couples to each other.  Usually, the best man and/or the maid of honour will extend well wishes to the newlyweds, but it’s also nice to open up the floor for others, but not create a mosh-pit of speeches.  So, now that we have the basic parameters, here’s a few key pointers that might help.

Exercise caution when using humour.  It’s great to mix a few laughs, but if comedy is not your stick, you might be best to steer clear.  People feel compelled to add humour, but let’s face it – there’s nothing worse than having to force out a few gratuitous laughs at a failed attempt at comedy.  And, please (I am actually begging) don’t ever use the horrible, yet ever popular, joke about the bride who is going to receive 3 rings for her wedding – the engagement ring, the wedding ring, and the suffer-ring!

It’s a toast not a roast!  I’ve seen this waaaay too often – people taking the giant leap over the line of appropriate content vs stories that might raise a few eyebrows even in a locker room or construction site.  The chronicles of drunken exploits, incarcerations, or previous sexual conquests should not be shared.  A particular speech comes to mind (and the victim will remain nameless) that managed to incorporate all 3 no-nos.  The wannabe roast master described the groom as “someone who likes to party, but if he parties too hard you better watch out – he’s been arrested for a few good brawls…”.  He added that the groom’s party days also involved countless relationships that would not last longer than 1 night or 1 hour.  How impressed do you think the bride or the parents were??  I don’t imagine he’ll be replacing Jimmy Kimmel any time soon…

Be prepared.  Have a good idea about what you want to say and rehearse it a few times.  I’m not suggesting memorizing or reading a script, but a few key points that you want to deliver should be fresh in your mind, or at least jotted down.  People who decide to wing-it often ramble on, and on, which quickly loses the guests’ attention.  Aim to keep the toast around 3-4 mins – at most!

Feeling a wee wobbly in the knees??  My suggestion to those who are nervous is to begin with an introduction that tells the guests that you’re not exactly comfortable, or not in your element.  People will quickly identify and empathize with you which should help put you (slightly) at ease.  If you’re getting a little shaky in the knees, just inconspicuously lean against a table or a wall to give you that much needed support.  The hand trembles can be easily masked by clasping them together and try holding your glass with a cupped hand facing upwards when you make your cheers. 

Timing.  My preference is to use the toast as a nice bridge from the ceremony to the reception.  It’s a way of telling your guests that party has officially begun!  Not to mention if someone is anxious or nervous about speaking, it gets this out of the way so everyone can relax and have fun. 

CHEERS!! :)

On this New Year’s Eve, like many I am reflecting on 2011, and looking forward to an amazing 2012!  For me, it’s safe to say that 2011 was like a big, eventful, wonderful blur.  Exactly 1 year ago, the sledge-hammer hit the old walls and From this Day Forward’s reno project began.  The seemingly endless and daunting construction journey was finally complete by April 8, and we finally had a chance to introduce ourselves to Ottawa’s wedding community. 

I very quickly realized how lucky soon-to-be couples are to have such a professional and talented collection of wedding service providers.  As the new comer, I received such incredible support, advice, promotion and good will from this tightly-knit network of friends.  I have always felt that professionals who share the same interests can only benefit by working as a cohesive unit, and this resonates in the culture of Ottawa’s wedding community.  I have such a long thank-you list that I’m afraid to leave people off, but I would be remiss not to acknowledge a few….

From the very start, Anne-Marie Bouchard (AMBphoto) has shown me such wonderful support with her kind words of endorsement, her breathtaking images (that I have exclusively used on my website), and her genuine friendship.  Alan Viau, Ottawa’s most revered and sought after wedding officiant, was a huge help with his thoughtful and insightful blog entries.  Alan really helped get the ball rolling as we were discovered by several clients who read his popular Scene and Heard section of the “Wedding Chaplain’s Journal” http://weddingchaplain.ca/category/ottawa-wedding-scene-and-heard/.  Lynn Lee (Weddings Unveiled) gave me so much helpful advice and guidance, not to mention directed me to the gals at Cinnamon Toast  http://cinnamontoastnewmedia.com/ whose outstanding talents created my website, signage, business cards and brochures.  Lynn, love the new look site by the way!! 

Again, I could keep this list going, but I am pretty committed to keeping this entry to within 2 pages and I need to express my biggest and sincerest THANK-YOU to our wonderful newlywed couples of 2011.  We had the honour and pleasure of celebrating magical wedding days with these special couples:

Shane & Carmen

Randi & Ryan

Erin & Alex

Heather & Chad

Kerry & Alain

Nancy & Robert

Sun-Ah & Tae Soo

Joanne & Jeff

Shawna & Owen

Deb & Dan

Patti & Bill

Marisa & Dan

I am sooooo excited about our upcoming 2012 weddings and can’t wait to wait to help shape some new matrimonial beginnings.

For the final cheers to 2011, let’s all remember to keep your special someone very close at hand for the famous kiss at the stroke of midnight!  After all, this special smooch sets the tone for your relationship in 2012…so, make it extra passionate, somewhat majestic, and deepened with love. 

I wish everyone the very best for a Health, Happy, Prosperous and Fun-filled 2012!!

Izabela

I am a true flower lover.  Beyond the remarkable and exquisite physical attributes, flowers have the distinct capacity to commemorate events and symbolically send a message.   For instance, roses always say “I love you”, orchids say “you’re beautiful”, pink carnations say “thank you mom!” and so the list continues…Unmatched in its rich identity, the red poppy delivers the poignant, powerful, and yet concise message of homage and gratitude.  “Lest We Forget”.  Those who proudly don the red poppy are not only honouring the ultimate sacrifice made by over 117,000 Canadian soldiers, but the events that helped define our great Nation.  Citing the words of former Brigadier-General A.E. Ross, Canada marked its “birth as a nation” by accomplishing a seemingly impossible and heroic fete by capturing Vimy Ridge.  The significance of this victory is that Canada succeeded where its American, French and British allies failed.  The victory at Vimy Ridge also marked the first time that Canadian forces from all across our Nation were united in battle.  Similar to how our heroes united and achieved greatness against all odds, we as a nation can join together and pay a collective tribute by wearing a poppy.   

We live in the greatest nation in the world and that is because of the unmatched bravery and sacrifice made by our Canadian War Veterans.  Wearing a poppy does not advocate any political or religious affiliation nor does it lend an endorsement to war.  The red poppy flower is only saying thank you to our Vets, and “Lest We Forget”.

Let’s face it – Our future will not be so bright if we all don’t “Go Green”!  I’m sure my statement hasn’t raised too many eyebrows, but read on for some good food for thought…

People are undoubtedly aware that our planet earth can no longer sustain our destructive behaviors and things need to change drastically and immediately (actually, 20 years ago… but present day will have to suffice).  I don’t profess to be an avid environmental activist, more so, a realist who is aware of our imminent danger and that the status quo, wait-and-see approach of the masses is not the solution.  While this certainly doesn’t apply to everyone, I think if we analyzed the attitudes within our own social units (ie family, friends, and colleagues) we would find that 99.9% are aware of our environmental crisis and most are happily complying with government legislated programs such as 3Rs, yard waste, and Energy as a Managed Service (well…maybe not this one yet).  Compliance and forced adoption of mandated programs are only part of the solution.  There needs to be a shift in our sociological attitudes such that we are not only accepting, but endorsing the necessary changes.  We, as a societal mass, have to embrace the notion that we can make a difference on an individual basis.  Currently, too many are still subscribing to the theory that our individual efforts don’t mean anything.  Quite frankly, within the greater scope of our environmental catastrophe, the sociably responsible action of an individual who participates in the community recycling program is rather insignificant.  Of course, the collective efforts of all individuals within the community, and the communities in a nation, and so on, certainly make a difference.    

So, how do we as individuals shift our attitudes, and start endorsing and promoting sustainability?  More importantly, how can we do this without turning our lives and homes upside down?  Finally, what the heck does this have to do with weddings??

The best way for me to answer questions 1 -3 and to keep this blog within the confines of weddings, is to list some examples that I have read from other green wedding blogs.  There is tons of information and suggestions on how to have the ultra earth-friendly experience, but it is not an ‘extreme measure’ that I am preaching.  My list of top 5 eco-friendly wedding ideas contains suggestions that won’t require that we make this radical self-transformation into a green-revolutionary or eco-zealout. Rather, it conveys subtle concepts that will hopefully engage and inspire new thoughts.  Also, please bear in mind that it is not my intention to recycle someone else’s ideas, but rather use these concepts in support of my claim that we are better difference makers by not only applying, but promoting such (or similar) creative concepts.  Hopefully I am following the proper protocols with regards to referencing because I’m fairly new to the blogging scene.  I’m very open to correction, but for now, I will simply attach a link to the website that applies…Without further ado, here’s my list of suggested ways that we can easily and effectively help out Mother Nature on our wedding day:

1.  Plantable invitations:  This is quite a hot new trend.  These are invitations that are made from bio-degradable paper with embedded seeds and are supposed to be planted, rather than discarded.  Once planted, and with proper care, the recipient gets an eco-friendly gift from the sender.  Pretty cool concept, right?  Beyond its intended purpose of being a vehicle to communicate the itinerary of a wedding and then grow a plant, the invitation represents an individual’s attitude towards environment reform.  I suppose it’s a little too philosophical or metaphorical to describe an invitation in such depth, but if you think about it, there is some validity here.   The recipient of the invitation will undoubtedly yield an unexpected and positive response from this ‘out of the ordinary’ and interesting concept.  Likely, this will invoke further discussion, and from there – we all know how word of mouth can spread.  We all agree that the invitation sets the tone of a wedding, so make sure you augment this invitation with some other eco concept!  Anyone interested should check out The Orange Tulip http://www.theorangetulip.ca/about.html.  It’s a unique shop right in the heart of the Glebe that carries a full selection of plantable wedding invitations, response cards, thank-you cards, and even favours. 

2.  Intimate sized weddings:  This might make you go hmmm because it’s certainly one of my favorites (be it that we are an intimate venue), but truthfully the concept is simple.  The fewer guests, naturally means fewer resources are consumed for your wedding day.  This includes everything from utilities to lodging, air and automotive travel (fuel exhausted).  Besides, the cost of your wedding day will be drastically reduced and the whole planning exercise becomes much simpler.  All you have to do is limit your guest list only to those that are close and special to both of you.  In other words, abandon the rules that have conditioned us, and have ultimately forced us to invite relatives that we hardly even know. (http://ecobites.com/articles/green-celebrations/green-weddings/2687-sustainable-wedding-trends-for-2011)  

3.  Tree seedlings as wedding favours:  Similar concept to the plantable invitations, except the seedlings are used as a wedding favor.  We all know the importance that trees have on reducing Co2 emissions, but these also serve as an ever-lasting symbol of your marriage.   http://www.treebeginnings.com/tree-seedling-favors.html

4.  Select a central location:  O.K., I admit, this is another self-glossing plug.  But, this concept is supported by an impartial blogger that I came across in my reading -(http://www.ecowedding.org/planning-guide/our-recommendations-for-an-eco-wedding.html).  If you will, consider the total fuel consumption of having all your guests travel a long distance for your wedding?  Selecting a location that is nearby and centralized will greatly reduce carbon emissions.  Not to mention, most of your guests will be thankful that they didn’t have to pack a lunch before travelling to your wedding.

5.  e-vitations: Emailing wedding invitations is certainly not for everyone, but there are some very stylish ways to do this.  You can completely customize your own look, include a slide show, your favorite song, and simply click and send.  Check out this site for some more details:  http://www.myinvitationlink.com/blog/.  The obvious advantages to the environment are 1) no paper waste, and 2) no fuel consumption for delivery to and from.  Besides that, the cost is drastically less than mailing, and the ability to manage your replies is a great help in the planning exercise. 

 I welcome the thoughts and ideas from anyone interested in adding to this contribution.  I will make every effort to be far more concise in my next posting which is coming very soon!

For this, my maiden voyage, or inauguration of blogging – call it what you will, I want to discuss the journey I took which culminated in From this Day Forward.

 With pride, I say that my website has some great content that clearly identifies the business’ philosophy, products, how to reach me, some great pics, and a little blurb about me.  (Thank you AMBphoto for the gorgeous images, and  Cinnamon Toast New Media, for coming up with such amazing design work.)  However, what I truly love about blogging is that it gives an opinionated person like me the licence to ramble, even though I am painfully unskilled in the art of website copywriting.   Consider this a forum, for anyone interested; to gain a clearer insight on what makes me tick, what intrigues me, what excites me and what downright drives me crazy.  All that said, I would love to hear comments.   No specific ground rules, but on a sliding-scale here’s my commentary ranking mechanism:

Insults = might be considered but usually ignored

Disagree = always love hearing a different perspective

Agree = this means you’re also correct (LOL)

Shower me with compliments = we’re friends for life

Now that I’ve shared my blogging beliefs, I can resume where this began – my From this Day Forward journey.

I’ll spare everyone with the boring details about my zest for art because quite frankly it landed me at Carleton University on the quest to become another starving artist.  Or, I could have pursued a path as a museum curator, performing art appraisals, or administering art auctions, but none of which were in my cards.  At the risk of sounding conceited (because I’m usually very unassuming.), my only motivation towards visual art was that I was told that I had a real gift of creating a work of beauty out of nothing at all.  Well, the academic merits of art got me nowhere, but at least I was able to discover and foster an inherent talent…

So, I’m allegedly blessed with this so-called artistic offering which meant that I became the go-to girl or the decorating authority amongst my family and peer group.  Yep, every shower, party, and special occasion I was assigned the seemingly daunting task of decor.  Strange thing, though, I actually enjoyed it!!  I guess it really is true that when the lights go on, sometimes they stay lit. 

My new found passion quickly found its way into my workplace.  At the time, I was working in the hospitality industry, serving & bartending.  My workplace had a separate banquet facility that hosted many special events, namely weddings.  I rarely worked the banquet room; mostly because the tips were better on the bar side and I really hated the huge food trays.  Anyway, there a small afternoon wedding and this was right in the midst of some sort of attempted “coup d’etat” by some of the banquet staff.  Low and behold, that morning, there was mutiny in the banquet hall, most of the staff fled, and I quickly found myself right in the thick of setting up and serving this wedding.  Quite honestly, I couldn’t see the issue with the renegade staff but they were gone and never returned.  I hit it off great with the Banquet and F&B managers so I got a ‘lateral’ promotion.  This means same pay but new post.  I became a member of the banquet team in a planning, décor and serving capacity.  The pay actually turned out to be worse but that didn’t bother me in the least because I absolutely loved my new role.  I was able to apply my artistic design aptitude towards making beautiful weddings and special events.  (A little secret about me is that I was always one of those little girls who staged the teddy bear wedding and constantly romanticized about their own dream wedding day.)  I would continue in this capacity for the next few years until pregnancy and TWINS!!  Talk about a way to turn your world upside down, but truly the greatest gift of my life!  That whole life transition and some beautiful pics of my son and daughter certainly warrant its own chapter which is coming soon…

In keeping with the modern approach to starting a family, where the sequence goes love, living together, then children, followed by matrimony, it was time to start planning my own wedding. (To those loyal to the old regime, my defence is that me and my hubby were engaged and therefore demonstrated intent to follow protocol.) 

Here I am, armed with a burning passion for creating dream weddings and this wealth of experience, on the quest to create my own masterpiece.  In the end, the wedding was incredible, and everything came together even better than I could have imagined but what really struck me was an overwhelming sense of empathy…

Why does it have to be so complicated and stressful to plan your dream wedding day?  Is the opportunity cost of compromising wedding day bliss worth the inherent stress?  Why isn’t there a place, right here in Ottawa, that looks after everything needed for the wedding day event? 

I know Ottawa is blessed with a community of wedding planners, that can perfectly and meticulously arrange every detail of the wedding day (and beyond), but I wasn’t aware of a venue that offered ready-made wedding day packages, at least within a reasonable distance to the city.  While this was true at the time, more recently there have been a couple places that opened shop, in hopes of filling that void.  Judging by their popularity, I would say they’ve been quite successful in their objective. 

I guess that makes me the late innovator in this marketplace, but quite honestly I feel my whole approach and philosophy are rather unique.  I don’t view companies who offer similar products as competitors; instead we’re all just industry colleagues who can learn from one another.  I’m one who subscribes to the theory that the more products within in a market, will naturally result in product enhancements, and facilitated innovation.  The consumer is the real winner in this situation!

Now it came time to put that metaphorical shovel in the ground and get this show on the road.  I already had a vision of ‘From this Day Forward’ and was fully committed to creating a venue that could showcase the picture perfect wedding day experience.  Rest assured, my standards were incredibly high because I would concede to nothing less than I would have wanted for my own wedding day.  Every detail and every finish received its proper attention and I’m proud to say that there was not a single corner cut.  I made sure to think of everything so that couples wouldn’t have to. 

In order to be complete, my business model would have to demonstrate a unique, modern elegance, provide a simplified planning solution, and be kind to the bank accounts of clients.  While I consider myself to be a zealot of ‘fairytale’ and ‘princess’ style weddings, I also felt that this should not come at the cost of a King’s ransom.  I knew that simplicity and affordability acted in sort of like a symbiotic relationship because when planning became increasingly simplified, the natural result would be increased affordability.  Simply put – since I included everything needed for the wedding day, couples don’t have to make the arrangements, or incur the hidden costs.  For instance, I decided to splurge on the crystal Chiavari chairs, which means – A) client doesn’t have to arrange for the chair rental; B) client doesn’t have to pay for the chair rental (usually $10/chair); C) elegant look means no chair cover required.  I think you see where I’m going….In a show of true commitment, I even allow couples to bring in their own alcohol (and we all play by the rules – S.O.P. is required!).

I guess by now if you’ve read my long-winded story, you kind of get an idea of how From this Day Forward came into fruition.  The ‘Coles Notes’ version of this story can be the one about a little girl who fanaticized about her wedding day, and would recreate this event each day in her bedroom with her stuffed animals and dolls.  The story has a happy ending because the girl eventually grows up and realizes her dream…