Say “I do” on the slopes that have made the Rockies Mountains so famous! Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting is proud and very excited to bring you Powder Brides, for a couple passionate about skiing or snowboarding is there any other way to go?

From start to finish your wedding day with be full of fun and adventure for you and your guests. With a morning ceremony, with the sun low over the mountains you can experience breathtaking majestic views as you say “I do”. Having your ceremony in the morning and not later in the day gives you time to relax and get ready for the evening ahead.

A videographer and a photographer will capture your ceremony for you, as well as, the guests that could not make the ski hill ceremony, if they are the adventurous type they can sneak in a couple of runs with you, getting amazing photos and video. When you leave the ski hill you will be leaving in style in your stretch hummer to the hotel where you will both start getting ready for your winter wonderland/Christmas reception.

Upon arriving at your hotel prepare to be pampered by knowledgeable and experienced staff. Get warmed up and rejuvenated from your morning on the slopes, with a hot stone message and soak in the hot tub, then it’s off to the salon to get your hair and make up done with your bridal party.
Imagine the transformation your guests will see, from you and your new husband being married in snow gear to a beautiful bride and groom in all their wedding attire! For an amazing arrival to your reception venue (even if your reception is being held at your hotel) hire a horse drawn carriage, for an added thrill take a little tour through town, and have your wedding party meet you at the doors for the grand entrance.

At this time of year, your reception is something you can get really creative with and of course your Sweet Occasions Bridal Consultant will be more than willing to help plan and execute your vision! A Christmas themed reception doesn’t have to be green and red, there are so many ways to give your guests a Christmas wedding experience they will not soon forget, without making it overwhelming. For instance think in light blue, silver and sparkling white for your decorating pallet. Don’t be afraid for using ornaments that made the holidays magical for you and your new husband, it can only serve to enhance the magical feeling a wedding brings. Sparkling décor is a wonderful way to reflect the snowy slopes you said your “I do’s” on, stepping through the doors of your reception venue into a sparkling room couldn’t be more amazing! Your tables set with white table cloths with shimmering light blue overlays, each napkin with a sprig of mistletoe placed on it, tea lights in frosted votives on the tables enhance the romantic atmosphere and give the room a warm glow. Your centerpieces can be alternating between tall vases filled with cracked ice and holly topped with beautiful winter flowers with strands of crystals dripping down like icicles, to reflect the candle light. The alternate centerpieces are beautiful wire trees in silver, with sparkling ornaments and crystals hanging from the branches. When your guest look up you want to give them the sensation of being snowed upon, using large silver bulbs and snowflakes of varying size you can achieve this easily, as well as add white swag to the ceiling and walls, this giving the fresh powder illusion!

As you settle in at your reception have the MC announce that you will be playing a video of the ceremony for the guest that were unable to attend and during the video you will be passing around a special Christmas keepsake for “warming”. (This is a different take on the “ring warming” ceremony, where the rings are passed from guest to guest to be given blessing or good wishes.) This is a very lovely way to include everyone and you will have a beautiful keepsake to put up every year to keep the memory of your wedding day alive and can be shared with future generations. Imagine, telling the story of that keepsake to your grandchildren, what more could one ask for?

All of this is possible, for your wedding day; at Sweet Occasions we have the talent, experience and a passion for creating your dream wedding. With the launch of our rental division, we now have everything from candle votives to candelabras and ceremony arches to make you wedding beautiful and memorable.

By Jacqui Cates

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Just walking into this shop makes your design bone tingle, from the ceiling to the floor there is inspiration everywhere you look.
Saturday’s open house was amazing, the moment you walk through the door you get the feeling of warmth and happiness, as well as excitement! There are some many décor ideas to take in, your brain starts thinking up excuses to through a party just so you can experience the beauty Willow Haven creates in your own home.
In a stunning display of talent and imagination, Willow Haven Flower Shop, (which should be renamed “Willow Haven Floral Art Studio) created 5 unique and breathtaking Bridal Bouquets.
The bouquets created for this even are not a bouquet you just simply add to your wedding, they are bouquets you design your wedding around!

Moulin Rouge

Perfect for the Christmas bride or any bride that loves red! This gorgeous bouquet, accented with red feathers and bulbs in nothing short of intense! Any woman carrying this down the aisle would feel both festive and sexy!

Design & Created By: Adrienne
Flowers: Tulips, calla lilies, roses and thistle

Fallen

All of Willows Havens bouquets are true works of art; however, “Fallen” is a masterpiece! This bouquet is not for the faint of heart, it commands attention at almost 5(?) feet long, the bride that carries this bouquet wants to make a statement on her Wedding Day!
Designed & Created By: Leo
Flowers: Hydrangea, lambs leaf, pussy willow and calla lilies

Crystal Balls

When you first lay eyes on this bouquet you can almost feel a pure and simple elegance radiating from it. With crystal chain hanging each of the five balls of white sposina spray rose at different lengths you’re instantly transported to a fairy tale wedding day! Although this bouquet has a soft and light look to it, with 100 stems and over 200 blooms, you may want to work on your biceps before carrying this down a long aisle!

Designed & Created By: Sharon
Flowers: Sposina spray roses

Planet Earth

Holding this gives you the feeling of having the whole world in your hands. What a magnificent feeling to have as you walk down the aisle! With flexie grass giving it an open globe look this bouquet is perfect for any “green” wedding!

Designed & Created By: Kaliee
Flowers: Poppy blooms, thistle, lambs leaf and lotus pods

Exotic Passion

At first glance this bouquet looks simple, but make no mistake it is candy for the senses! With various textured flowers and grasses you want to touch it to feel the soft petals on your finger tips. It invites you to inhale its sent, looking into each peach or purple flower is like looking into a whole new world.

Designed & Created By: Marlies
Flowers: Protea, ranculus, orchids, typha, calla lilies and noreen

By Jacqui Cates

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Whether you are just putting the finishing touches on your winter wedding or just starting the planning process for next year, Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting is here to help.

Winter decorating can be as simple as adding a candy cane to a cocktail or as elaborate as transforming your reception venue into a winter wonderland! If you are planning to have your winter wedding in the Canadian Rockies, you will find breath taking back drops everywhere you look. With all the beauty that surrounds you, why not pick up a few tips from Mother Nature herself?
Your centerpieces can be a stunning crystal blue, like an ancient glacier or go green! By using sapling pine trees you can add a lovely local flair to your table, as well as a natural light scent that all your guests will enjoy. A true green bonus; use the saplings in the spring and reduce your carbon footprint! (Be sure to keep saplings moist so they don’t die before spring.)

Another small but fabulous idea is having a signature drink made for your wedding, served in winter themed martini glass. Think snowflakes or snowmen! Garnish with a small candy cane, perfect treats to add to your color scheme!

Adding dark rich colors to your decor can be dramatic as well as comforting. Couches and armchairs can be added to conventional reception seating to add warmth and comfort to a room. Use throw pillows in rich plums, red, greens and gold to enhance your receptions look and feel.
For a simple elegant centerpiece, place Christmas bulbs in a clear bowls; add a few tea lights for extra reflective sparkle.
By taking a queue from nature you can add a bit of dramatic flair to your centerpieces. Using sections of felled trees (please be sure they were cut down for more than just decorations) in various sizes, pillar candles, colored bulbs and small sections of fabric you can jazz up any table.
Ceiling and wall swag used sparingly in dark rick colors and accented with backlighting can beautifully play up any wall.

If your reception is in a room with a less than stellar view, why not bring
the majesty of the Canadian Rockies inside? A boring corner or nook with
extra room behind the gift table can be made to look like an alpine forest.
A few pine trees (purchased from tree farm) and a couple of faux trees to
fill in the empty spots and your forest were in place. Add some spray on snow
to the branches, wall swag of white with a hint of light blue and you have a
replica mountain forest right in the room. Perhaps you’re having a Christmas
wedding, decorate a tree with all the trimmings for a festive glow.
If you are into winter sports such as skiing, skating and hockey, bring that
part of you into your wedding decorating. Make a table top into a skating
pond with mirrors, figurines and trees. Drape white linen over upside down
vases of varying sizes to create your own ski hill! Aside from looking
whimsical they will be fantastic conversation starters for guests that have
never met!
Instead of the traditional table number, name a table after a Rocky Mountain
Ski Resort, favorite run or even members of the Canadian Olympic Team!
Injecting aspects of yourselves in your wedding photos will make for unique
and exciting wedding pictures! Put your skis or snowboard on for a couple of
pictures! Not into downhill or cross-country? Don your ice skates for a quick
hockey game, you and your brides maids against the groom and his groomsmen!
With the bride and groom facing off at centre ice.

If you have a January wedding in mind, the Chateau Lake Louise has
magnificent ice carving every year as well as a replica “hotel” on the
frozen lake. With timeless mountains and beautiful ice carving your wedding
and photos will be remember and talked about for years to come!

Angelachrempf

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Make your wedding more eco-friendly

View this article here: http://www.banffcragandcanyon.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1625872

By Shawn Slaght

shawn@thecrag.ca

With the wedding season just around the corner, there are many ways to make a wedding in the Bow Valley more eco-friendly according to local executive wedding planner Angela Schrempf.

Schrempf, who has been in the event planning industry since 2002 and currently operates Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting based out of Canmore, said there are some simple and inexpensive ways to make a wedding more environmentally friendly.

“We like to focus on really being green about everything,” said Schrempf. “Because I respect the area so much.”

Schrempf said one of the things to consider when planning a wedding is to reduce fuel emissions used by guests and the cost of the venue rentals by holding the ceremony and reception in one place.

“There are many venues in both Banff and Canmore and all over the Rockies for that matter that offer both hotel services and services for both outdoor and indoor ceremony locations and receptions,” she said.

If that is not possible, consider getting a shuttle bus for the guests from the ceremony to the reception or carpool in hybrid vehicles.

There are also facilities that promote environmental preservation that can be rented out for special events. One of the local facilities that Schrempf recommended was the Chateau Lake Louise.

“They are really, really big about that with their expansion,” she said. “They actually reduced the amount of water they use and other utilities when they expanded and doubled their property size.”

She said there are also facilities like Buffalo Mountain Lodge and Emerald Lake Lodge that produce their own game and meat for the meals.

When it comes to brides, they can consider wearing gowns made of natural fabrics or wear a used gown.

With photography, she recommended going with a photographer who keeps photos digital and only prints out the photos that are wanted.

“They won’t actually send you a proof book. You can go online,” said Schrempf.

Schrempf also recommended planning an eco-travel honeymoon. She said eco-travel agents can be found online and can meet anyone’s needs such as hiking, lounging on a beach, or strolling through a museum.

“We don’t have to go on a cruise or do something that is going to harm the environment producing carbon emissions,” said Schrempf.

She also suggested, along with holding the ceremony in the Rocky Mountains, staying in the Bow Valley for the honeymoon.

“Ditch everyone and stay in the Rockies,” she said. “Go exploring, go on a lake and do some canoeing. Enjoy yourself, it is gorgeous here.”

Another idea Schrempf suggested was holding the ceremony near water and, instead of leaving in a limo, leaving the ceremony in a canoe.

With décor, a few of the suggestions Schrempf had included using soy candles, which burn cleaner and longer and spills are much easier to clean up. She also recommended using natural elements such as branches and river rocks.

For invitations, the paper can be made of high-recycled content or from alternative fiber such as hemp or bamboo.

“They are really unique in how you can get tons of textures, colours and designs,” said Schrempf. “You can really customize it and also the same price than going with your normal invitations, so why not.”

Flower arrangement can also be done with wildflowers. Also those planning a wedding can ask their florist about donating the flowers to facilities such as hospitals.

One of the simpler ways to make a wedding more eco-friendly in the mountains is to simply go outside.

“Why use lighting indoors and air conditioning when you can have your wedding outside,” said Schrempf. “Go to a lake or a meadow. There are plenty of locations around here.”

However, permits are required for holding an outdoor ceremony in the National Park. Or information is available regarding the permit by contacting the Banff National Park Information Centre at 762-1550.

Hiring local vendors and entertainment cuts down on travel and carbon emissions. Also acoustic musicians can cut down on electricity.

“Local vendors are not more expensive than in Calgary,” said Schrempf. “Calgary vendors are actually more expensive than our vendors.”

More information about eco-friendly weddings can be found at www.sweatoccasionsbanff.com or by contacting Angela Schrempf at 403-678-6366 or by email at angela@sweetoccasionsbanff.com.

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Creating an Eco Chic Wedding

By Executive Wedding Planner Angela Schrempf

Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting

Banff National Park located in Alberta Canada is no doubt one of the most beautiful protected areas in all of North America.  A perfect setting for a luxurious wedding or an intimate elopement, the Banff National Park offers world class accommodations, dining & scenery that is completely unmatched.  The preservation of this gorgeous landscape is paramount and brides enjoying the Rockies can do a few small things to help preserve this beautiful place for their children.

Here are some fantastic tips to save the environment and some money:

Venues

• Host your wedding in National Park or natural reserve.  This is a great environmentally friendly choice; not to mention makes an amazing backdrop for your wedding!
• Host your ceremony and reception in one place, reducing the amount of fuel emissions used by the guests and the cost of venue rentals.  Buffalo Mountain Lodge & Emerald Lake Lodge are fantastic venues that offer beautiful natural ceremony & reception locations & lodging.  For the Princess Brides the Castle in the Mountains Fairmont Banff Springs also offers posh ceremony & reception venues and world class accommodations!

Lindsay & Daniel enjoy a natural ceremony in the heart of the Rockies.  Created by Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting. Photography by Peak Photography.

Vendors

• Hire local vendors. The less transportation, the lower the vendor cost!
• As a wedding planner specializing in the Canadian Rockies I know that each vendor in my community can provide the same service & specializing in the Rockies.  Vendors from out of town will charge you more for their gas & travel time and will not have as much experience in the Rockies as local vendors.  Support the local economy and save yourself some money with our local vendors.

Design & Decor

• Look for soy candles, they’re made from a renewable resource, are cleaner and longer burning than regular candles.  Avoid those nasty table cloth cleaning charges at your venue because spills are easy to clean – just use soap and hot water!
• For the invitations & stationary use paper that has a high-recycled content or print your invites on a gift of seed paper.  Guest can plant your stationary and enjoy beautiful flowers!
• For placement cards pluck leaves from trees and handwrite the guest’s names on each leaf, add an shiny silk ribbon at the stem and tie the leaf around the napkin for the perfect natural touch!
• Give life to your guests with little seedling trees as favors.  As your love grows so will the trees and your guests will always remember how spectacular your wedding was every time they see their tree!

Fashion

• Consider purchasing a gown made of natural eco-fabrics like silk and hemp.  You could also please your budget by purchasing a used gown or wearing a family member’s gown.
• For your rings choose silver instead of gold. Silver mining has a much lower impact on our environment and there are plenty of gemstones besides diamonds to choose from which are equally beautiful and are one of the latest trends!

Transportation

• If your wedding is near the water instead of leaving in a limo leave your ceremony in a canoe!   Couples can also departed on depart in a horse drawn carriage, sleigh, or even on bicycles.
• Book a shuttle bus for guests.  Guests flying in will be happy that they don’t have to rent a vehicle and you will be helping the environment.  If vehicles are necessary consider carpooling in hybrid vehicles.

Photo by Peak Photography.

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Step 1
Use flowers that are in season. They’re readily available and cost less than flowers that are out of season. And all flowers cost more during the month of February because of Valentine’s Day.

Step 2
Get married on a holiday when the church will already be decorated. Christmas and Easter decorations already set up in a church can make a beautiful backdrop for your wedding.

Banff Garden Wedding Flowers

Step 3
Shrink your bridal party and your guest list. Fewer people mean fewer bouquets and decorations.

Step 4
Coordinate with another bride who is getting married around the same time as you. The two of you might be able to split the cost of flowers.
Step 5
Look outdoors for decorations. An outdoor wedding can save you tons of money on flowers and the Rockies are naturally beautiful!

Emerald Lake Lodge

Step 6
Supplement large arrangements with less expensive flowers. Usually, these arrangements are far away, so your guests won’t be able to tell anyway.

Step 7
Create your own arrangements. You can use silk flowers or even flowers from your own garden. And you save a lot of money in the process.
Step 8
Fill spaces with greenery instead of flowers. Large potted plants can be rented for significantly less than flowers. Ivy and other greenery is also beautiful as an accent.
Step 9

Think about fruit and other alternative arrangements. A vase full of fruit is just as eye catching, and it’s quite a bit cheaper.

Design by Angela Schrempf

Enjoy!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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Making your own wedding veil is a simple and inexpensive process that can give you runway results without the price tag! Simple enough for just about everyone, this is a stress free project because if you muck it up, it is inexpensive enough to just start again!
Just follow this simple tutorial to create your vivacious veil!

STEP 1 – Style & Length

When creating your own wedding veil the first step is to choose which style and length suites you and your dress best. You might want to visit some bridal shops and try veils on to get a better idea of what you like and what looks good on. If possible try veils on with your dress. Here are your length options:
Blusher: Shoulder

Waist Length

Fingertip length

Knee Length

Chapel: Floor Length

Cathedral: Dragging on the Floor

STEP 2 – Choosing a Clip or Tiara

Your veil can be attached to a headband, comb, tiara or any other creative object that you can fasten into your hair. You can purchase these accessories at various crafts stores like Michaels or a fashion jewelry shop. There are also wedding veil combs at most fabric stores and are usually under $10! You can also just use a plain, unadorned comb and you can stick into your hair for under a $1. Elaborate crowns, tiaras or decorated combs can cost more. You can always decorate your plain comb with come pears, beads or other accessories.

STEP 3 – Choosing your Tulle

Your tulle is your veil material. After deciding the length of your veil you can purchase your tulle. Tulle is available at many craft stores but I would recommend a fabric store as they have a better selection. Tulle is very inexpensive and can frequently be purchased for under $1.00 a yard, however the better the quality the better the higher the cost. After shopping around you will find that not all tulle is the same. It comes in many different colors, qualities textures and can vary so much that it is a good idea to purchase a yard of tulle you are considering to match it to your dress.
Upon finding the right tulle consider how many layers your veil will be, the length and your creative ability (if you’re not too creative you might have to start over a couple times).

STEP 3 – Cutting the Veil

You will need a workspace large enough to lay the fabric out flat and cut it. If your table isn’t large enough, clear out a space on your clean floor. You can purchase a veil patter at the fabric store or you don’t have to use a pattern at all! The shape of the fabric should basically a large oval. You can also just fold the tulle over lengthwise, pin it together so it doesn’t shift, and cut the bottom end, rounding off the corners. You can leave the sides straight, with just the bottom rounded, leaving the top end squared. The squared end will be the top of the veil that will be gathered on the comb. If you want a double layer veil, so that you have veil will cover your face, cut a smaller rounded piece of tulle.

STEP 4 – Attaching the Tulle to the Comb

After you have finished cutting your veil you can gather your veil by using a gathering stitch on the straight edge of the fabric. The tulle is now ready to attach to the comb.
You can attach the veil directly to your hand band or tiara or directly to the comb. I sigest attaching directly to the comb to avoid damaging delicate jewelry, and you can also take out the comb for the reception and still enjoy a headpiece.
Sew the gathered veil directly onto the comb or crown and it is ready to stick in into your hair!
MISSION COMPLETED! Wasn’t that easy!

STEP 5 – Finishing

You can chose to leave the tulle edge unfinished for a wispy look or you can finish the edge, by rolling it and sewing it. You can also choose to decorate the body of the veil by sewing of gluing small pearls, crystals or rhinestones on the veil.

Good Luck!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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Being prepared on your wedding is something I do best, so here is a secret that can save your sanity! Don’t let the little things create a big problem, be prepared for anything and everything the Rocky Mountains can throw at you by creating your own Wedding Day Survival Kit!

The Rocky Mountains can throw some unexpected scenarios at you on your wedding day so here are some useful items to include in your Rocky Mountain Wedding Survival Kit.

Start with a small purse, pouch or makeup bag and begin adding the following contents for those unforeseen emergencies.

Here are some key items to include:

Clothes

* Tide Pen
* White chalk (works amazing for hiding any stains that might appear on your dress)
* Static Guard
* Double sided tape
*Lint brush
* Packing tape (go for the clear)
* Sewing kit including scissor
* Safety pins

Face

* Makeup for touchups
* Powder (to banish shine in the photos!)
* Mirror
* Tissues
* Blotting tissues
* Q-tips

Hair

* Brush
* Bobby Pins
* Hairspray

Smile

* Gum
* Breath Freshener
* Floss
* Toothbrush and toothpaste
* Mints

Nails

* Clear nail polish
* Super glue
* Nail polish remover
* Nail file

Body

* Sun Screen
* Bug Spray
* Tampons
* Deodorant
* Advil/Tylenol/Motrin
* Alka-Seltzer
* Tums
* Band-aids
* Visine
* Purell

Feet

* Slippers
* Band-Aid Blister Blocks

Good Luck!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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Who said you had to walk down the aisle? WHY NOT DANCE?! It is a celebration isn’t it?!

Here is a creative bride and groom that shook up the traditional processional. I LOVE the idea of customizing a wedding day exactly to fit the personality of the couple! Way to go!

As a dancer and figure skater for 14 years, why not merge my choreography skills with wedding planning?

Just Dance!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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