Stephanie Thompson Wedding Design

5 Tips To Look & Feel Your Best On Your Wedding Day!

Steph — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:53:26 +0000

Every bride wants to look stunning on her wedding day… if you didn’t you wouldn’t spend hundreds of dollars on the gown, designer shoes and your beauty regime. You want your guests to tell you how stunning you look and how much fun they are having at your wedding. However your guests take their cue from the hosts… which is ultimately the bride + groom and their families. If you’re running around not enjoying yourselves then your guests won’t either. I guarantee you that all eyes will be on you and your families the entire time, so it’s important to have a good time while you’re there.

Here are a few of my tips to ensure that you can be the stunning beautiful bride but also ensure your guests know your wedding is amazing!

Steph’s Bridal Advice:

#1. Accept Compliments- When someone says that you look beautiful… it’s simple… say thank you! When they tell you that they are having a wonderful time, don’t start complaining that the venue didn’t serve the right food. Unless you point it out… your guests have no clue what was supposed to be right or wrong.

#2. Smile, Laugh, Dance + Have A Good Time- Your wedding will be over before you know it. At the end of the night you won’t believe how fast it goes by. So make sure that you enjoy every single moment. Smile, laugh, eat the yummy food, smell the roses, hug your guests, dance like mad, kiss your new husband and just soak it all up!

#3. Glow Like The Star You Are- On your wedding day you cannot be the star in the spotlight and the director behind-the-scenes. Even though you have this wedding perfectly planned, you need someone there to oversee the entire day from the time you wake up until the time your last guest leaves. You want someone there to help communicate your wishes to your vendors and venues. To help with the set up to ensure that everything is how you wanted it to be. To ensure that the services you’ve paid for is up to your standards and as per your contacts. And that if any problems or issues arise, someone with the proper experience and expertise will be able to handle the problem with grace and quickly without panic. Hire a wedding planner or train a friend/family member as your planner for the day by taking the “Countdown to your wedding day-Bootcamp” course we offer.

#4. Walk with poise, grace + beauty- Practise walking around in your designer shoes several weeks before your wedding day. Concentrate on feeling beautiful, graceful and confident. Here’s a DIVA tip I heard from Beyonce… to wear your shoes with socks while you begin to break them in to prevent blisters.

#5. Stress-less the last few weeks prior to your wedding- What helps you unwind? I love singing + music… it empowers me. So sing in the shower, sing in the car, rock out to work with your favourite tune. Perhaps you love the spa- get a package and spend a day at the spa have a facial, a massage, get your nails done. Journal- starting to go a little crazy just before the big day. That’s okay, this is very normal. Grab a journal and start writing out how you feel… vent to your journal and get it all out. You’ll feel so much better.

If you ultimately want to have more ENERGY to get you through the wedding planning process and the BIG DAY, look and feel your best, glow with joy and confidence and look more fit in your wedding dress then join the Body By Vi- 90 Day Challenge. Visit www.stephaniethompson.bodybyvi.com or watch my own transformation atwww.facebook.com/steph.scott.thompson.

Tips on Planning Your Honeymoon

breanne — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 09:00:18 +0000

Ah the honeymoon! After all that time and energy that went into your wedding every couple deserves and should plan to go on the most amazing honeymoon afterwards. Taking the time to get away and spend some time together after you get married is important to bond as husband and wife. This trip may be one of your last chances to do something really amazing before you decide to have children. I interviewed our STWD travel agent Denise Georgiou-Newell from Travels Jubilee and came up with a few tips to share when planning your dream honeymoon

1) Pick a Bucket List Destination – Do you both have visiting a particular place on your bucket list? Or maybe only one of you has it on your list but the other one
thinks that would be a great place to visit too? Your honeymoon is a great time to check things off your bucket list. Whether its wine tasting in France, relaxing on the beach in Jamaica, a gondala ride in Venice, or taking a cruise through the Greek Isles.

2) Don’t Let Not Enough Money Be An Obstacle – I’ve talked to many couples who didn’t go on a honeymoon because they felt as if there wasn’t enough money to
travel. But don’t let that stop you, just get creative. If a lower budget is an issue consider looking into local destinations. Maybe there’s a nice local Bed & Breakfast that you’ve always wanted to visit, or consider a relaxing trip to Muskoka, or a fun filled trip to Niagara Falls. It doesn’t matter where you go, the key is just to get away together. Always consult with a travel agent to check what your options are for your budget.

3) Look into Some Popular Travel Destinations – Although popular destinations book up quickly, often you may find more specials being offered on these destinations. Right now destinations such as South Africa, India, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Europe are very popular.

4) Wait a Couple Days – It’s a really good idea to wait a few days to unwind after your wedding day before departing on your dream honeymoon. This allows you more time to sort of wind down from the big day, rest, then start your honeymoon off very calm right from the beginning.

5) Get Help! – Many people don’t realize that travel prices are fixed across the board. You cannot go elsewhere to get cheaper its an equal playing field (keep in mind that even bargain travel sites tend to take away a service or security to give you that rock bottom price). So why not use the expertise of an experienced travel agent and get help when researching and booking a dreamy honeymoon and destination wedding.

And remember if you require any assistant with your honeymoon or destination wedding booking our travel team is here to help! Contact us at info@stephaniethompson.ca. And check out Denise at www.travelsjubilee.com.

Life * Love * Bliss

Steph — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:18:59 +0000

image: stec photography

So I haven’t blogged in a while and its mostly because there’s so much change going on in my life that my whole viewpoint of my life and business has changed because I’ve changed. Before blogging to me seemed so un-natural and like I did it because I had to. Not because it felt good to share with you. There are some really great wedding planning tips, ideas, looks, decor out there so why would you need one more person to blog about that? I also find that most of my clients who come to me have a pretty good idea what they want their wedding to look like and my role is to give you maybe a few tips/ideas but mainly to make it happen for you based on what you dream about and see. To give you the confidence when making decisions about your wedding and doing it because its fun and you love it. I don’t want you to be afraid to do something that feels amazing (like pick a really vibrant colour for your decor) to please others. This is your day… do what YOU want. Forget everyone else.

So instead of blogging about ideas and wedding planning tips I want to talk more about all the amazing things in life. Those things that bring me joy and inspire me on a daily basis. And in doing so I hope to inspire you.

So I hope you don’t mind my new approach to my blog and feel free to post comments, be inspired, get in the discussion and if you have any wedding planning questions you’re always welcome to post via my facebook fanpage.

Now get off your computer and go enjoy living your life!

P.S. I’m always super inspired and influenced by music. One of my favourite songs right now is Moment For Life by Nicki Minaj ft Drake… check it out on You Tube. Pay attention to a moment that feels amazing (your first dance, when you say I do, when you are holding hands with your new husband on your honeymoon)… now just enjoy it for as long as you can!

Learn From My Failure

breanne — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:05:06 +0000

So I’ve been struggling the last few weeks to get out our weekly Ezine out as well as post any new blog posts mainly because I’ve been struggling to put my happy face on. So instead I thought I’d just share the truth with you all because I’ve learned something that’s so important. After 2 years of marriage and 7 years of being together my husband Steve and I have decided to happily part ways. As much as we love one another we realized that we just aren’t happy together that something is just missing between us. Not that things are bad… but they aren’t good either. We just got really comfortable… maybe too comfortable and lost who were are as individuals.

The reason I want to share this with you all is that sometimes I find that as women we tend to get caught up in the fantasy that this wedding is the beginning of the “perfect life and happiness” and it very well could be. But I also would like to just leave you with this tip. Make sure that after the wedding you still ensure that you take the time for balance in your lives as individuals. What I mean by that is you need to ensure every aspect of your life is fulfilled. You still need to go after the things you want out of life. And your partner needs to continue to do the same. Life doesn’t have to get stale or comfortable. In fact it can be quite fulfilling and exciting. Challenge one another. Be the other persons cheerleader. Growing together doesn’t mean just getting old it means helping one another with everything you want out of life. You have to communicate even if it means arguing, but you need to share your feelings and come up with a compromise that both of you are happy with.

I hope this keeps things in perspective for some of you and I hope I didn’t depress anyone. I care about you all and your happiness and want to remind you that if you feel like you’re getting carried away with your dream day versus your dream life then you need to shift your thinking. You can start this right now by planning this wedding together as a team. Get your partner involved with your wedding plans if they haven’t been up to this point. You need their input to help you stay sane.

As for Steve and I. We’re ready to move forward with our lives but continue on being the bestest friends. He’s the best father and husband around and I’m so grateful to have him in my life and realize that planning our wedding has lead me down this road to doing what I love and that’s not just planning weddings…its helping people pursue their dreams and find happiness in their lives. And it can and should happen together with your partner but it was just too late for us. Every day I get to share with my clients, friends and strangers on how to get over their fears, stop worrying about what other people think and go after the things they want out of life. Like the song from JRDN says “You can have it all.”

How a Wedding Planner Helps

breanne — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:00:30 +0000

Most engaged couples have a lot of great ideas for their weddings, but aren’t sure how to make them happen or they just don’t have the extra time in their busy lives to do all the researching and planning. As a Wedding Planner I am an extension of the couple (an extra set of hands) and work with them to ensure everything they want for their wedding day comes true. I speak the language of the wedding professionals they work with and I am here to work with the couple, the vendors, and the venue to ensure everyone has a great experience and you ultimately have the desired wedding day the couple envisions.

Many couples and their parents tell me that I make wedding planning much easier. They may be stressing over certain details or have questions about their wedding but I am here so they can ask me and have instant answers to put their minds at ease.

I know everything that’s going on with the entire wedding day from start to finish and I am here to rally all of the vendors and the venue to work together to ensure that your wedding happens as planned.

I take on many different roles as a Wedding Planner such as:

Designer – I’m here to bring the couples vision to life. I help them come up with the concept of not just décor and flowers but to pre-plan the desired outcome of the entire day. How everything will tickle each of the 5 senses. How your wedding will look, feel, smell, sound, and taste. Then my team helps execute the plan on the day of your wedding. We also assist you in creating a theme which is the commonality between all of the details such as colour scheme, atmosphere, invitations, flowers, décor, lighting, and cake.
Trend Spotter – We help couples who want unique and stylish weddings incorporate some of the latest wedding trends that are applicable to them. For instance trends such as stylized and themed photo shoots, cake pops, romantic ceremonies and videography coverage are big this year.
Mediator/Therapist – I help stressed and overwhelmed couples handle any problems they may be having. Whether, it’s an overbearing mother-in-law who wants to control your decor, an uncle who insists on being your photographer even though his skills are not as great as he seems to think, a jealous maid of honour or any other kind of stress you’re having; I have your back. I’m here to talk you through things and help you deal with any drama.
Vendor Matchmaker – I work with a variety of very talented vendors each experts in their field. I have many connections that fit a variety of different budgets, styles, and personalities. I can set you up with ones that I think will fit with you and your wedding vision perfectly.
Budgeter – I will put together a budget for your wedding and keep you on track so there are no scary, expensive surprises at the end of your wedding planning experience.

I truly feel that everyone should be working with a Wedding Planner on some level. If your car broke down, you wouldn’t fix it yourself you’d take it to a mechanic, because they’re experts at fixing cars. So why would you want to take one of the most important days of your lives and a huge investment of money and leave it to chance. I offer FREE advice for you via my e-mail magazine “Wedding Wishes by Stephanie Thompson as well as my FREE Special Report “Designer Secrets Revealed 7 Easy Ways To Wedding WOW Factor” which you can subscribe to on the right sidebar of this post.

Every moment matters,

Want To Use This Article In Your Newsletter or Website Site? You’re welcome to as long as you include this quote with it… Wedding Design Specialist, Stephanie Thompson, publishes “Wedding Wishes” weekly e-magazine with 3500+ subscribers. If you are looking for more wedding design & planning tips sign up here to get my FREE Special Report “7 Easy Ways To Get Wedding WOW Factor” at www.stephaniethompson.ca. Stephanie Thompson Wedding Design is a wedding planning, decor and design company located near Milton, ON serving Hamilton, Halton, Niagara and the Greater Toronto area.

Don’t Be Afraid To Voice Your Vision

Steph — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:51:29 +0000

It took me 12 different hair stylists, but I found the right fit and I love him dearly. For the two years I have seen this stylist, I would get a shoulder length hair cut. But my last visit I decided to grow my hair out and just get some layers cut in. I went to get my hair trimmed this week and I asked my stylist to “do what he did last time.”

I meant keep the length and trim the layers. He thought I meant my usual haircut. To make a long story short I got home and was disappointed because my hair was shoulder length again. I wasn’t clear when I told my hair stylist what I wanted so it’s not his fault my hair didn’t turn out how I wanted. I had a vision in my head, which I didn’t properly communicate and I didn’t speak up when I saw things weren’t going how I wanted.

Steph’s Bridal Advice:

Wedding professionals, just like hair stylists, want you to be happy and want to do a great job for you but they can only do what you ask of them. If you don’t properly communicate your vision it most likely won’t turn out how you want it to.

Sometimes vendors (like hair stylists) have their own visions, but at the end of the day it’s about what you want. You should never be afraid of voicing your opinion or making it clear what you want. If you have a certain flower arrangement in mind but your florist has created something a little different don’t be afraid to say it’s not exactly what you want. They won’t be offended and you’ll be happy in the end.

Bringing pictures and sketching out your ideas are ways of helping to show your vision clearly. If you’re on the shyer side you may want to consider bringing a relative or friend who knows your vision and will help you get it across. It’s better to be safe than sorry and you want to be happy with the final product.

As a Wedding Planner, I am here to make sure you speak your mind or I’ll be by your side to speak up in case you look like you’re settling or not 100% excited or on board with your decisions. I understand the language of the wedding planning industry and promise to help make your vision come to life. If you are unable to voice your opinion with your vendor because you fear you will hurt their feelings, I will be your advocate and help rely the message. After your wedding is over you want to be happy with the final product, don’t let a centrepiece you aren’t happy with, or a cake that’s not quite the way you want it ruin your day – voice your vision.

Every moment matters,

“Help! My Mom’s Driving Me NUTS”

breanne — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:50:10 +0000

As a Wedding Planner, many of my clients are ready to pull their hair out when it comes to their family and friends who are influencing their decisions for their wedding or driving them nuts. Everyone seems to have different opinions and can be very overwhelming. Many mothers like to play a big role in the planning of your special day, but often have big opinions and you can begin to feel significant pressure to do things their way. Keep in mind this is YOUR special day. Here are a few tips to deal with this issue:

Be Open – Listen to what they have to say. When you instantly brush off anything they have to say, they will often begin to get pushier to try and get you to hear what they are saying. And sometimes they may end up having pretty good suggestions.
Communication is Key – Tell them your vision, what you and your fiancé see for your wedding. Be clear with what you want and even tell them things that you don’t like so they can get a clear visual in their mind.
Put Together a Vision Board – Google some images of things you’d like to see at your wedding. Whether it’s a colour scheme, floral design, centrepiece, cake, etc and put it together on a vision board. This will be something that you can show them so they can visualize what exactly you’re looking for when it comes to your wedding.
Compromise – So they have advice or ideas that you aren’t exactly keen on? Take what they say and look at the good of it. They’re just trying to help out because they love you.
Consider Hiring a Wedding Planner – By hiring a Wedding Planner, you have assurance that someone’s got your back when it comes to your vision. If someone’s trying to mess with your vision and trying to force their opinions down your throat, I’m here to help. I’m just a phone call, email, or text message away. As a Wedding Planner I can play the role of mediator, friend, therapist, a shoulder to cry on, whatever you need; I’m here for you.

Every moment matters,

Red & Blue Wedding Inspiration Board

breanne — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:46:26 +0000

Photos:getmarried.com,monstermarketplace.com,pinkfrosting.com.au,junebugweddings.com,weddings.theknot.com, weddingchicks.com,newandblue.com,weddings.theknot.com,weddings.theknot.com,paradisepastries.com, weddings.theknot.com,weddings.theknot.com,marthastewart.com

20 First Dance Song Ideas for Your Special Day

breanne — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:00:20 +0000

Your first dance is one of those very special moments at your wedding. It’s your first dance together as man and wife. Choosing a song that fits your personalities and makes you both happy is key. Here are a few great first dance songs:

You and Me – Lifehouse

The Power of Love – Celine Dion

Iris – Goo Goo Dolls

From this Moment On – Shania Twain

Close to You – Maxi Priest

Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley

Hopelessly Devoted to You – Olivia Newton John

I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel

When You Say Nothing at All – Ronan Keating

At Last – Etta Jones

Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart

Unforgettable – Nat King Cole

Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers

To Make You Feel My Love – Garth Brooks

Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden

You Had Me From Hello – Kenny Chesney

Come Away With Me – Norah Jones

My Best Friend – Tim McGraw

More Than Words – Eric Clapton

Every moment matters,

9 Easy Steps to Choosing Your Wedding Bands

breanne — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:00:36 +0000

Set a budget. Having a set budget on what you want to spend on your wedding bands will help you keep on track of your total wedding budget.
Do some online research. Look at a variety of companies online and begin to see what type of ring you each want. Tiffany & Co. Kay Jewellers and Blue Nile are a few places where you can get ring inspiration.
Discuss whether or not you want matching or non-matching bands. Many couples choose bands that coordinate with each other. But some couples prefer to choose to not worry about coordinating rings and just focus on getting something that suits you each individually.
Choose the type of band metal you both wish to get. White gold, yellow gold, and platinum are the most popular choices.
Consider the 4C’s. Carat – diamond weight. Clarity – the degree to which a diamond is free of flaws. Colour – how transparent the diamond is. Cut – the shape and style of the diamond.
Match the engagement ring. Having your wedding band coordinate with your engagement ring is important if you wish to wear them together.
Visit your local jewelers together and look at rings in person. Shopping for your rings together ensures you both will like what you get and it can be a fun experience to share together.
Talk to a knowledgeable employee that can help answer your questions and address any concerns either of you may have.
Think before you buy. Purchasing wedding bands is a pricey endeavor. Make sure you know what you’re about to buy before you buy it. After visiting the jewelers go for a coffee with your fiancé to talk about your big purchase, or sleep on it and then purchase after

Every moment matters,