Details & Decorations
1. etsy.com We hit Etsy every day, looking
for new handcrafted goodness from its more than 400,000 artisans. Wedding finds range from custom cake toppers to tree-bark table numbers.

2. threepotatofourshop.com No need to scour flea markets for old apothecary bottles. The site has plenty of vintage items
you can buy in multiples, with regularly updated inventory.

3. creamcityribbon.com The 60-plus styles
of natural cotton ribbon will brighten up anything they touch.  
 
4. spoonflower.com Yes, you can create personalized fabric for your party. All you have to do is upload an image (or search among the catalog of designs).

5. save-on-crafts.com Dirt-cheap essentials for big DIY projects? Bring it. Blackboards, cotton pouches, burlap—everything you need is right here.

6. impressrubberstamps.com One $7 stamp can work wonders on an invitation, menu, favor bag—practically anything with a flat surface (your man's abs?). P.S.: The site sells stickers, ink pads, and punches, too.

7. jamaligarden.com  Yay for decorative goodies like feathers, seashells, beaded napkin
rings, and lights—all at wholesale prices. 
 
8. foryourparty.com Want to put your faces on a book of matches? Need monogrammed napkins, place cards, or coasters? You'll find personalized details galore at way-affordable prices. 
 
9. classicpartyrentals.com This is the go-to spot for rental linens, place settings, tents, even craps tables and tiki torches.

10. lunabazaar.com Looking for paper lanterns? This site's got 'em in every shape, size, color, and pattern imaginable. It also has easy-on-the-wallet parasols, hand fans, and votive holders. Who said decking out a party space is pricey?

Gifts & Favors
11. navyandlavender.com Search for cute favors by season and theme. Love that daisy-shaped cookie cutter!

12. dogeared.com The ultimate bridesmaids' gift: delicate, affordable charm necklaces they'll wear again and again. 

13. jimeale.com From polka-dot totes to striped cosmetics cases, these right-priced accessories will be a hit with your girls.

 14. fontainemaury.com Get personalized prezzies at this monogram-everything store.

 15. 20x200.com This site connects present seekers with artists and sells prints starting at just $20 a pop.

 16. glassybaby.com This company offers hand-blown votives in 400-plus colors and donates part of its sales to cancer care (more than $500K so far!).

 17. momastore.org Pick up quirky gifts like artsy scarves (for your bridesmaids) and portable space-age speakers (for his buds). 

18. rollingpinproductions.com A yummy idea: Send guests home with individually wrapped cookies customized to your party theme.

 19. tribalsociete.com Heart ethnic jewelry? You'll love these vibrant pieces, handmade by artisans around the world. (There are sarongs and sandals, too!) A portion of all proceeds goes to the Global Fund for Women.

 20. beau-coup.com Brownie pops! Luggage tags! Candy jars! If you can imagine it, you'll probably find it at this one-stop favor shop. Check out celeb planner Colin Cowie's boutique, which showcases his fave picks.

Flowers
21. bridesign.com We're mad for its wedding-in-a-box packaging. The bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces we ordered arrived in pristine, big day-ready condition. 

22. amysorchids.com There's no such thing as orchid overload. This site imports more than 60 varieties from Thailand; you can buy them in natural colors or unusual dyed hues (bright orange, turquoise). 

23. growersbox.com This bride-friendly
company lets you order arranged flowers or bulk blooms—great for DIYers.

 24. nettletonhollow.com Along with flowers, you'll find an assortment of branches, grasses, pods, and foliage. All are perfect for creating unusual arrangements or adding
texture to any floral centerpiece.

 25. thecrimsonpoppy.com Paper flowers that look as jaw-droppingly gorgeous as Mother Nature's own: Artist Jenny Jafek-Jones handcrafts everything from "rose petal" confetti to poppy bouquets you can (really) keep forever.

 26. fancyflorist.com Carnations, mums, jasmine--you'll find garlands aplenty on this site, which specializes in floral decor and Hindu weddings.

 27. fiftyflowers.com There's a mind-blowing variety of flower options here (50,000 choices!). You can search by color, season, and bloom type. And the prices? Amazing. 

28. afloral.com Doing your own flowers? Get thee to this http now. Afloral.com has tools, floral foam, bouquet holders—everything you need to assemble your arrangements. 

29. frittsrosenow.com Mini-sailboats, teeny guitars: Give him a boutonniere that will make him smile. (Or get even more creative with a custom order!)

 30. globalrose.com Want to pretty up your party with the wedding flower? Search no further than Globalrose, which has more than 75 varieties of this traditional bloom—some in nontraditional colors (green!). Not into roses? There are tons of other beautiful blossoms.

Paper Goods
31. weddingpaperdivas.com The selection of stylish invitations and save-the-dates is practically infinite; preview personalized touches instantly. 

32. hellolucky.com This hip spot offers
digital printing, but its real specialty is an enormous catalog of fun,  cost-conscious letterpress invites. 


33. cocodot.com Elegant electronic invites for the engagement party or bridal shower? We'd totally click that. 

34. myownlabels.com Create labels for tags, place cards, and escort cards for as little as 15 cents each. 
 
35. smockpaper.com The very first print shop to offer elegant letterpress invites and tags on luxury bamboo paper also donates 1 percent of its sales to environmental causes. 
 
36. mountaincow.com DIY newbies rejoice: This stationery site's printable invites are cute, modern, and way easy to make. (Just download Mountaincow's super-helpful  software.)

 37. papyrusonline.com Along with guest books and invitations, Papyrus is a primo spot for picking up those ever-important thank-you cards. 

38. minted.com Want to have fun with your wedding stationery? Tell the story of how you met with customizable fold-out save-the-dates.  

39. nightowlpapergoods.com Folksy and chic aren't words typically used in the same sentence, but the unique wooden wedding suites you'll find here are both.

 40. paper-source.com With more than 40 colors and 10 size options to choose among, you'll find creating your dream invitation suite a breeze. The blog and the how-to videos are full of fab DIY ideas and tips.

Accessories & Extras
41. jenniferbehr.com Celebs like Rihanna and Natalie Portman adore Behr's Swarovski-encrusted and silk-organza headpieces. You will, too. 

42. saragabriel.com Can't decide what to
wear for a headpiece? Use the Personal Style Search feature to scour the extensive collection of handmade and customizable veils. 

43. spanx.com Type "bridal" in the site's
search box and Spanx will tell you exactly what type of shapewear works with your gown's silhouette.

 44. journelle.com La Perla bras, Hanky Panky  undies—hit this spot if you want to pick up something sexy for your wedding night.

 45. tejani.com Founder Urvi Prunier's Indian heritage is evident in every high-sparkle handbag and piece of jewelry on this bride-geared site. 

46. azaara.com Add pizzazz to your big-day ensemble with filigree earrings, beaded bangles, and oversize rings.

 47. swarovski.com You want bling? From handbags to statement necklaces, everything Swarovski sells is covered in those famous crystals.

 48. charmandchain.com Browse wow-worthy options for every budget on this giant jewelry site. 
 
49. ninashoes.com We are officially obsessed: Along with ready-made options, Nina lets you design custom shoes.  

50. myglassslipper.com So over picking through the scarce wedding-shoe choices on most sites? This megastore has more than 250 OMG options from coveted designer brands like Badgley Mischka, as well as tons of affordable picks. (Psst: It has handbags, too!)

Wedding season is in full swing but while wedding celebrations are often steeped in tradition, not everything is as it once was. Couples are personalizing their nuptials more and more, and as budgets become stricter, a lot of the old etiquette is being pushed aside. From who pays for the reception to how long afterward you can send a gift, find out which wedding rules are being bent, and which ones can be broken.

Traditionally, the parents of the groom take care of a few of the expenses including: the marriage license, officiant's fee, corsages, boutonnieres, the bride's bouquet, groomsmen gifts, liquor, and the reception DJ or band. And the bride’s parents pay for everything else. Then again, today’s guidelines of who pays for what are very flexible -- many times, the parents of the bride and groom will split the wedding expenses in half, or sometimes into thirds, depending on whether the couple pitches in. In the end, the amount of money you
contribute depends upon your financial situation and how much you’re willing to contribute.

A bride, a bridegroom, the parents, a smattering of aunties and uncles, lots of friends, bridesmaids - and, of course, a best man and the maid of honour. All are core ingredients of the traditional wedding. However, there is a growing trend for would-be grooms to throw out the rule book and opt for best women instead. A man of honor, best maid, grandma as the flower girl—your wedding party is just that, yours; there should be no restrictions.

Here's the deal with wedding gifts: Technically, you aren't obligated to ever get the couple anything. If you do get them a gift, you're just expressing your goodwill and support of their marriage. That said, most to-be-weds and wedding guests alike consider wedding gifts obligatory. Bridal showers are somewhat different-- though the same rules apply, since it is technically a gift-giving party, one would be remiss to show up empty-handed unless the hosts have declared it a gift-less shower (believe it or not, these do happen -- sometimes a party is just a party). That's why for years the etiquette was that no one in the bride's family could host the shower, since people perceived that as a greedy grab for additional wedding gifts. Never the less, bringing a gift to the shower does not technically constitute a "get out of gift free" pass for the wedding. That said, if you want to give the couple a gift at the shower but not at the wedding, that's your prerogative and you are not wrong for doing so. If you're worried you'll seem cheap with only one gift (not that that's at all the case), the easiest solution is to simply split your gift-giving budget between the shower and the wedding rather than overextending your finances to buy two full-scale gifts.

While the original tradition was based on the Roman law mandating that the bride to be, be accompanied by 10 similarly dressed attendants to confuse evil spirits trying to cause mischief and bring her harm. Today, your responsibilities include everything from hearing about all her excitement and gripes, to helping her plan and celebrate, and everything in between. According to industry experts, you can also expect to help her with her gown selection, host her Bridal Shower, her Bachelorette Party,  keep track of her gifts and who gave her what, conduct last minute errands, help her get dressed (the day of), deliver a rehearsal dinner and reception toast, stand in the receiving line, make sure she and the groom are well tended to (the day of), hobnob with friends and relatives…and kept the party hoppin’, especially when and if the dance floor thins out. And you were thinking
warding off evil spirits was a lot of work.
Professionals point out, that while you may be flattered at being enlisted for this honorable position, you should instead be emotionally and financially ready, willing and able. Otherwise, they suggest that you decline gracefully.

Although some people consider it to be vulgar to ask guests for money, you will find that most wedding guests appreciate that for newlyweds monetary gifts are far more useful to them than a traditional wedding gift - they can put the money towards something they really need such as a down payment on a house, a car or to help pay for their honeymoon.  This is exemplified in a nationwide survey carried out by i3 which proved that 78% of consumers prefer to give cash as a wedding gift.  With the average age of couples marrying for the first time rising, most couples realize that having already fitted out their households with most appliances and homeware items they would prefer cold hard cash as an alternative wedding gift.
Whilst wedding etiquette definitely frowns on either coming right out and boldly asking guests for money or including a request for cash in your wedding invitations, there are some more subtle ways of putting the word out to friends and family that monetary gifts are preferable as far as you are concerned.

The bride and groom may see each other before the ceremony if they wish. Although many people steer away from breaking this tradition, there is a solid reason to follow a more modern trend -- taking pictures before the ceremony.
Usually the photographer will set up an intimate meeting place for the couple to first lay eyes on each other in order to capture this emotional moment without any distractions. They can also take pictures with their families and wedding party after this. It allows the photographer more time and creativity, instead of being rushed to get to the reception. It will also avoid having guests wait for a long period of time for the wedding party and the couple.

While the vast majority of the population prefers the perennial classic gold wedding band, there are many reasons why a couple might choose a unique alternative ring instead.
- Expense: Even a simple, thin wedding band can cost $100 or more, and bands with multiple diamonds or more unusual metals may cost thousands of dollars. Alternative rings, on the other hand, can be found that cost much less but are no less meaningful.
- Environment: Green lifestyles are becoming more and more popular, and wrapping a small amount of precious metal around one's finger has no practical purpose other than to deplete resources. Choosing a more environmentally friendly ring is a great unique alternative.
- Politics: While many countries are seeking to prevent the trade of blood diamonds and conflict diamonds, there are still rebel groups that profit from illicit diamond sales. Choosing an alternative ring prevents this.
- Profession: Some professions, such as athletes, mechanics, doctors, or actors, may be unable to wear traditional wedding bands. Choosing a more unique alternative lets the couple honor their commitment without compromising the career.
- Anti-Commercialism: Some individuals see the commercialism of engagements and weddings - expensive jewelry, clothes, parties, etc. - as the propagation of a cliché lifestyle and societal expectations rather than a true romantic commitment. Choosing unique alternative wedding rings is a great way to honor one another without succumbing to the expectations of the big white wedding.

I must admit I'm tempted to stare when someone tells me "I just don't like cake." Because, as everyone knows, wedding cake is no longer just cake. Wedding cake has morphed into something that, in the right hands, borders on a religious experience.
Many don't, but a few persevere in wanting something else. Fortunately, weddings these days are about personal choice and individuality--they don't have to have one. And the alternatives to cake are many.
The secret to a satisfying wedding cake alternative is simple--presentation. Whatever you're serving, stack it in tiers. Follow this simple tip and you can turn almost anything into food fit for the most special occasion.

On your wedding day, there are some details you can keep organized by simply remembering to bring these supplies into your dressing room. It is recommended that you should have your maid of honour or someone else you trust put together your Bridal Emergency Kit. Here are some items to consider from top to bottom:
- Bobby Pins
- Small Comb
- Hair Spray – Fly-aways can ruin your perfect
look. Always plaster unwanted strays down, particularly with outdoor weddings.
- Spare Bindi(s)
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Tide To Go Stick
- Earring backings – It’s always good to have extras because they are so small and slippery that you may easily loose one.
- Facial Tissues
- Extra compact of any powder make-up you’re wearing – On Amy’s wedding day, her sister dropped her powder foundation compact and the powder crumbled into hundreds of pieces all over the floor. Good thing she had an extra one!
- Aspirin
- Water
- Sprite or Tums to calm the butterflies in your stomach
- Small Snack
- Mints – Not gum. Have a few mints before you walk down the aisle. You don’t want to be reading your vows or kissing your new husband with bad breath.
- Deodorant
- Nail Clippers and File
- Nail Glue
- Safety Pins
- Tampons and Pads
- Clear Band-aids
- Spare pair of shoes – In case a heal breaks or your shoes get dirty, you have a spare pair!  Just make sure that it matches your dress and has the right height so the front of your wedding dress doesn’t drag on the ground.

If you decide to use a wedding planner from Lauren Ashley, we will provide  you with a “Just-In-Case Bridal Emergency Kit” made exclusively for Lauren Ashley clients to help make your wedding experience flow more easily. Relax and enjoy your wedding day!

One of my oldest friends shared with me that he is proposing to his girlfriend and has asked me to plan their beautiful day. I couldn't be more excited because 1. my bff is getting hitched and 2. I get to be a part of it!!
What a joyous and love filled day it will be. I can't  wait to start planning it.
Happy day it is :)

I am taking on a new project working with OK2BME and KW Counselling Services on Pride Prom 2011.

OK2BME is a set of support services operated through K-W Counselling Services in partnership with Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth and families. These support services include LGBTQ-positive individual and family counselling, social and recreational groups, consultation, public education, and help with establishing Gay-Straight Alliances in local schools.

I couldn't be more excited to roll out the red carpet for this great group of kids!!

Website is finally up and running and we couldn't be more excited! Champagne has been popped as we are in full celebration mode.